With so many incredible civic organizations and helping hands doing great work in Charm City, it’s easy to see Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy in action all year long. But MLK Day is a specific time to reflect on the enduring power of one of our country’s most influential leaders.
This year, make Jan. 19 more than just a day off by attending a lecture on Black history, celebrating with local artists and poets, giving back to the community, or checking out the city’s annual parade. Here are a handful of engaging activities and events to get involved throughout the long weekend.
Jan 17: MLK Performances at The Walters
The Walters Art Museum is hosting an afternoon of special performances curated by poet and MICA professor Unique Robinson. Featuring Maryland Poet Laureate Lady Brion, The Voice semi-finalist Davon Fleming, and multi-instrumentalist Ray Winder, the event is a great opportunity to recognize local artists and engage in a time of listening and celebration. 600 N. Charles St. 3-4:30 p.m. Free.
Jan 17-19: MLK Jr. Weekend Celebration at the B&O: Freedom in Fabric
The B&O Railroad museum is hosting a full weekend of activities exploring the deep connections between quilting and the Underground Railroad—as the art form was often used during the time of slavery as a means to communicate, with “quilt codes” embedded in the patterns. To honor Dr. King’s legacy, the museum will host family-friendly mini quilt craft sessions; displays from the Baltimore Heritage Quilt Guild and Uhuru Quilters Guild; African American Railroading Legacy tours; and guided tours of the museum’s Underground Railroad: Freedom Seekers on the B&O exhibit that focus on quilting traditions. 901 West Pratt St. Times and prices vary.
Jan 19: Annual MLK Day of Service with Civic Works
Every year, Civic Works hosts its MLK Day of Service as an opportunity for locals to give back to the community at large. Join more than 300 other volunteers across seven sites in volunteer activities like organizing warehouses, cleaning public spaces, gardening, and more. Various locations. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Free with registration.
Jan 19: AVAM “Dare to Dream” Day
Visit the American Visionary Art Museum for a whole day of free educational activities celebrating Black culture and heritage. Perfect for the family, this annual event will feature an open mic and poetry slam, art workshops, live choir performances, and a picture book presentation by local author B. Sharise Moore, the brains behind A City Dream. 800 Key Hwy. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.
Jan 19: King Day at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum: Children Shall Lead
The annual day of programming at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture will explore civil rights through the lens of youth activists. Highlights throughout the day will include a youth panel discussion on redefining activism, an elder panel on youth in the Civil Rights Movement, a film screening of Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round, youth choral and dance performances, and an Afro hip-hop dance class. Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free.
Jan 19: MLK Day Parade
For more than 20 years, Baltimore has hosted an annual MLK Day Parade, bringing the city together in celebration and reflection of Dr. King’s principles. On Monday, Jan. 19, the city’s annual parade will once again march down Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in remembrance of the street’s namesake. Starting at noon, the procession kicks off at Eutaw Street, with marching bands, dance groups, color guard troupes, local leaders, and more in tow. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. between Eutaw St. and Baltimore St. 12 p.m. Free.
Jan 19: Symphony in the City MLK Day Celebration Concert at the BSO
The BSO is partnering with the Mayor’s Office to host this free performance showcasing the work of pivotal Black composers such as Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Florence Price, and Morgan State University’s own James Lee III. Led by music director Jonathon Heyward—with vocals by the Morgan State University choir—the program will close out with Charles Dickerson’s I Have A Dream, an emotional musical tribute to Dr. King’s iconic speech. Be sure to arrive early for pre-show festivities (think: live poetry, DJ entertainment, a step show, a selfie station, and an interactive “Dream Wall”) in the Meyerhoff lobby. 1212 Cathedral St. 5:30 p.m. Free with reservations.