This week our Diamond Nature School of America—the name we gave our homeschool—grinded to a halt.

Not only has Governor Larry Hogan issued a stricter stay-at-home order (yes, we can still be outside on hikes, but more limited locations), but also we found a crazy looking engorged tick on our 9-year-old’s head.

In a way, seeing our pediatrician (though it was initially in the parking lot) felt normal, but as we moved inside the office (since we were both healthy) it all felt so surreal. Empty waiting rooms, doctors in masks. She was able to remove the tick and we have started two weeks of antibiotics.

“Well this was my most interesting case today,” she told me. I laughed. Imagine being told that in the middle of a pandemic. (And now add Lyme disease to my—long—list of worries.)

And while we aren’t afraid of being outside and have added tick checks after all our hand washing, I was happy to compile this list of indoor activities from some beloved local institutions.

I’ll just add that all these options, while well intentioned, can also feel overwhelming. I’m here to say you don’t have to do everything. You can let your kids choose or write each program/video/activity down and choose one or two a day from a bowl. These should only bring joy.

The Maryland Zoo is hosting a new “Zoo To You” Instagram series with animal check-ins every weekday at 11 a.m. We especially love an occasional photo of chimp babies, Lola and Violet.

Center Stage’s “Camp at Home” DIY learning series features eight weeks of interactive at-home storytelling with simple activities and a new unit released each week on Facebook.

The Maryland Science Center has created a “Let’s Science Together” page that includes a massive catalogue of at-home experiments and star maps, along with some live-streaming at home activities (like Maker Monday) and the five-object challenge every Thursday.

The American Visionary Art Museum offers at-home art projects, downloadable coloring pages, educational materials for pre-K through middle school kids, and even a how-to guide on making their beloved sock monkeys at home.

Port Discovery’s Instagram has great #PlayatHome projects for kids, from a simple slime recipe (plus info about animals who create their own slime naturally) to painting with slinky to creating sensory rice bins.

Baltimore County Public Library has a “Storyline” where kids can choose between six different stories each week, read aloud by the librarians. It can be accessed by simply calling 410-887-6116.

National Aquarium has at-home aquatic activities from word finds to coloring books to octopus mask-making, but our favorites are the tank cams of the blue blubber jellies, Pacific coral reef, and the Blacktip Reef exhibit. (Though we really miss Calypso the sea turtle.)

Kevin Sherry, a local kids book illustrator, is doing sing-along’s and live readings of his books on Instagram and his YouTube channel, along with lots of drawings to download and color, and our favorite, “COVID Quarantine with Kinkos,” a short comic about Sherry and his cat.

WTMD’s Home School with Sam Gallant is spinning educational songs every day at 10 a.m. on 89.7 FM or online at wtmd.org. We also love the station’s Young At Heart marathons hosted daily by Lisa Matthews, the lead singer of the Grammy-nominated kids rock band, Milkshake.

Irvine Nature Center has been posting tips for exploring nature at home, plus videos including songs, easy activities, and even some feeding time with their resident vulture, along with sharing their Nature Preschool’s YouTube channel.

Other favorites include pirate story time from Urban Pirates, The Creative Alliance’s Storytime with Drag Queens, and Route One Apparel’s awesome Baltimore coloring book. It’s a free download, but any donation will go straight to their employees.

Feel free to send any other great, local activities to: djanelle@baltimoremagazine.net.

Looking to add a bit of culture to your afternoon? There is no shortage of great museums around Baltimore. Whether it’s art, science, history, or a particular famous figure you’re interested in, there’s a place nearby to spend your day wandering and learning.

American Visionary Art Museum

This unique museum celebrating outsider art was named by Congress as the country’s official museum for self-taught art. Come for the elaborate sculptures, gorgeous drawings, and interesting assemblage pieces, then stick around to browse Sideshow, the treasure trove of a museum store downstairs. As a bonus, AVAM is free for federal employees (and up to three others) during the 2019 government shutdown with a valid ID.

For more visionary and local art, try: MICA Galleries, Eubie Blake Cultural Center

Baltimore Museum of Art

This free museum houses a collection of 95,000 works, so you’re sure to find something to interest everyone among its vast collection. Lovers of modern art will want to linger in the galleries housing the famed Cone Collection, while those looking for the more non-traditional can usually find something interesting and extraordinary in the Contemporary Wing or special exhibition galleries. Recent shows have included a John Waters retrospective, surreal visions of some of Europe’s great conflicts, and a look back at the BMA’s first exhibit to feature black artists.

For more art and antiques, try: Maryland Art Place, School 33 Art Center

Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African-American History & Culture

The Smithsonian-affiliated Reginald F. Lewis Museum is home to art, photographs, sculptures, military antiques, and ephemera chronicling Maryland’s African-American history from 1784 to the present. Although it’s connected to the Smithsonian, the Lewis Museum remains open throughout the shutdown and is offering free admission to furloughed workers and up to three guests with a valid government I.D.

For more African-American history and culture, try: Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park, National Great Blacks in Wax Museum

The Walters Art Museum

Housed across three buildings (including a historic residence) in Mount Vernon, the Walters features an extensive collection of Asian antiquities and decorative arts. Wander the Chamber of Wonders to experience what a 1600s nobleman might have shown off in his lavish home, or head to the 1 West Mount Vernon Place to see contemporary art placed alongside the preserved architecture of a 19th-century townhouse.

For more historic homes and exhibits, try: The Johns Hopkins Museums, The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House

The Baltimore Museum of Industry

Explore Baltimore’s history as a hub of business and industry at this South Baltimore museum housed in a former cannery. Exhibits include a 1900s garment loft, a recreated soda fountain, a print shop, and a gallery dedicated to how Baltimore fueled the rise of the automobile. Don’t forget to stop by the Baltimore docked outside—she’s the oldest steam-powered tugboat in the United States.

For more transportation and industrial history, try: The B&O Railroad Museum, Baltimore Streetcar Museum

Maryland Historical Society

The MdHS is the state’s oldest, continuously operating cultural institution, having been responsible for documenting Maryland history since 1844. With exhibits featuring figures such as The Catonsville Nine, Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte, and the Peale Family of painters, this collection is comprised of more than seven million items from pre-Colonial times to the present.

For more great figures from Baltimore’s past, try: The Babe Ruth Birthplace & Museum, Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum

Maryland Science Center

With a history going back to 1797 with the Maryland Academy of Sciences, this Inner Harbor spot has evolved into a family-friendly exploration of the natural world, from the smallest cells to history’s largest creatures. Visitors can also take advantage of Davis Planetarium or catch a movie on the IMAX screen, which will reopen in March after theater renovations are complete.

For more hands-on learning, try: Port Discovery Children’s Museum, Historic Ships in Baltimore

National Aquarium

Plan to spend some serious time at this colorful spot. Beyond the normal fish, rays, and other aquatic critters, you’ll find sloths, puffins, crocodiles, and more scattered across the many habitats housed in this multi-level aquarium. An indoor rainforest, a stories-high shark tank, and a living reef featuring Calypso, a rescued sea turtle, are just a few of the highlights in this gem overlooking the Inner Harbor. Book your timed entry ticket online to avoid long lines, and go first thing in the morning or late in the day to avoid the field trip crowd.

For more nature encounters, try: The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Rawlings Conservatory

Civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. left behind a towering legacy of hope and change. Whether you spend Monday, January 21, taking in a performance, introducing your kids to his work, or engaging with Baltimore’s cultural leaders, you can make a difference in honor of his birthday. Here are the best ways to celebrate Dr. King.

Annual MLK Memorial Breakfast
For 38 years now, the aptly named Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast Committee has continued its namesake’s work with a local breakfast meant to activate and inspire its guests. This year’s theme is “Realizing the Dream: The Time is Now,” and keynote speaker Michelle Asha Cooper, president of the Institute for Higher Education Policy, will deliver an address advocating access to higher education for all students during the two-hour breakfast. La Fontaine Bleue, 7514 Ritchie Hwy., Glen Burnie. 8-10 a.m. $35.

Baltimore MLK Parade
Throw on a coat and scarf to enjoy Baltimore’s 19th annual spectacle in honor of the late civil rights leader. Kicking off at noon, the procession follows Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and features more than 70 participants with feel-good entertainment for all ages, including floats, marching bands, and dance squads. Even Mayor Catherine Pugh—despite last year’s controversy—will be joining the celebration of Dr. King’s birthday. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. between Eutaw St. and Baltimore St. 12 p.m. Free.

Dare to Dream Day
The American Visionary Art Museum never misses an opportunity to put its own spin on beloved holidays, and next Monday’s extravaganza is no exception. Admission is completely free all day, including the museum’s many exhibitions and a special screening of a film about MLK in the second floor theater. Guests of all ages can create buttons that represent their own dreams starting at 10 a.m. followed by free birthday cake and drinks at noon. Stick around a bit longer to catch slam poetry and dance performances by Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women and Keur Khaleyi African Dance Company. American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free.

I Have a Dream Weekend
Introduce your little ones to milestones in civil rights history at Port Discovery this Monday, when the museum opens its doors for a day of educational fun. Learn about Dr. King’s monumental legacy while creating birthday cards for him and joining in interactive stories about his legacy. Elsewhere, make a quilt square with the African-American Quilters of Baltimore and discover the history of Negro League baseball. Better yet, children from Northwood Elementary School will be dressed up as African-American historical figures, waiting to share their life stories. Port Discovery, 35 Market Pl. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free-$5.

MLK Day Celebration and Day of Service
Join the Reginald F. Lewis Museum for their annual day of service in honor of MLK. This day-long celebration offers a little something for everyone, including crafts for kids, a performance by Singing Sensations Youth Choir, a discussion with Dr. King’s barber, and a reading of the play The Mountaintop by Baltimore Center Stage. Between events and exhibits, take advantage of free onsite health screenings by Kaiser Permanente. Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $5.

Voices of Carmen
Station North stalwart Motor House will honor MLK with a special afternoon performance of Voices of Carmen, a modern take on the classic French opera Carmen. Performed by a cast of 40 singers, actors, dancers, and musicians comprised entirely of teens from Baltimore, the musical updates its source material by moving the action to the inner city and breaching issues that affect young people today. Make sure to stay for a discussion about escalating conflicts among the city’s youth and Dr. King’s legacy of nonviolence. Motor House, 120 W. North Ave. 2:30-4:30 p.m. Free.

Baltimore’s Strange Fruit
Eric Jackson and Maddie Hardy’s documentary Baltimore’s Strange Fruit chronicles the city’s history of food inequality through race, class, and land politics. As part of a special MLK program, Creative Alliance will be showing the film for free, including a dinner before the screening. Immediately following the film, take in a panel discussion with Black Yield Institute’s Eric Jackson and finish the evening with a service project to benefit Cherry Hill Urban Garden. Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free.

New Year’s Eve is historically a night to class it up, toast champagne, and hopefully snag a kiss at midnight. And, while there’s certainly no shortage of adults-only events in this town, kids always love to get in on the festive fun, too.

This year, you can do it all because there’s tons of daytime action happening that your littles will gladly toot their noise-makers for. So, save the sparkly dresses and hors d’oeuvre for later and check out one of these kid-friendly events on NYE.

Midnight Noon at Maryland Science Center
At this annual New Year’s Eve celebration at the Maryland Science Center, kids can watch the ball drop long before bedtime. The ball drops at 12 noon, but there’s tons of celebrations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., like a live concert by the kid’s band Milkshake and tons of science-based play to be had. Plus, all the NYE activities are completely free with your admission, too, so you don’t have to worry about spending a ton to ring the new year in with the kids.

Kiddie Scoop Ball Drop at The Charmery

It’s a Baltimore holiday tradition to celebrate New Year’s at The Charmery. This year, the festivities take place at the ice cream factory’s newest location at Union Collective. The ball drops at 8 p.m. and it wouldn’t be complete without ice cream, shakes, beers, and the tunes of Bon Jovi by cover band Heart n Dagger. Doors open at 6:30, so come, eat, drink, and dance. But most importantly? Get those kids to bed before 2019.

Noontime New Year’s Eve at Port Discovery
The kid-fun is always endless at Port Discovery and New Year’s Eve is no different. Come December 31, there will be tons of celebrating happening all over the museum. With cool crafts, special performances, juggling, live animals, and more, it’s the perfect way for children to ring in the new year. Play and explore all day, but don’t miss the confetti-filled ball drop at noon, complete with a special snack of juice and cookies. It’s also a chance for kids to say goodbye to the KidWorks climbing structures that will soon be replaced in 2019.

Day of Family Bowling at Bowlero

If you’re looking for a little friendly competition, purchase a family bowling package at Bowlero. With two hours of unlimited bowling, champagne for the adults and cider for the kids, knocking down pins is the perfect way to spend a day together—not to mention, it’s both active and affordable. Try to stay out of the gutter and enjoy some quality time together both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day (packages are available for both).

Skate Late at Pandora Ice Rink
While it’s not on the early side, older kids and parents alike will love to have a late skate at the Inner Harbor rink, which is open until 12:30 a.m. Aside from the skating fun at the gorgeous ice rink, the totally amazing view of the downtown fireworks display is a site to be seen and a pretty good reason to rent some skates (even if you hug the wall the entire time). If you’ve yet to practice your crossovers at the Inner Harbor, the NYE late skate is the perfect opportunity.

Read Your Way Into 2019 at Baltimore County Public Libraries
On New Year’s Eve, little bookworms can visit any one of the Baltimore County Public Library locations to ring in the new year at noon. Count down with some friends and check out some great titles. Because, really, what better way is there to head into a new year than with a whole bag of new books, aka, new adventures?

How did you begin working with children’s museums?
I started out in the for-profit world, specifically corporate banking and then marketing and communications. I was involved with the children’s museums in Minneapolis and Richmond before I ended up in Baltimore and started at the Cloisters children’s museum, but I was still pursuing my for-profit career during that time.

What influenced you to leave the for-profit world and work at the children’s museum full-time?
I had always seen and believed in the power of a children’s museums’ place in a community. I really believed in what children’s museums were doing. I had the opportunity to take a six-month leave from my “real job” to help start Port Discovery, and it turned into my passion because I love what we do here. For me, this role combines my for-profit and non-profit background in a way that comes together beautifully. I feel very lucky.

How do you see Port Discovery’s role in the community?
When the museum first opened in 2008, we used the expression, “If you can dream it, you can do it” and we still believe and work by that today. Our role is to open doors for kids and open their minds and their families’ minds to new possibilities. For example, we’ve had so many teachers tell us that they could talk about Egypt all day in the classroom with little response from the kids, but when they walk into a sarcophagus and see inside a mummy in our Egypt exhibit, then it means something to them.

We strive to be a gateway experience—meaning that if they love the Egypt exhibit here, then maybe they’ll visit the Egypt exhibit at The Walters Art Museum next. Given everything that’s happened in Baltimore over the past couple of years, it makes me believe even more in the possibilities that we can make for the children and families who live here. We’ve barely made a dent, and we’ve got a lot of good work to do.

The museum is in the midst of a $10.5 million capital campaign. What can visitors expect to see as a result?
We’ve had more than five million visitors since we’ve opened, and, as you can imagine, five million little hands touching and pulling on everything takes its toll. We thought a lot about how families, teachers, and members use the museum, and we surveyed them about what they needed from us. Our big additions will be the port exhibit and the new four-story SkyClimber [climbing structure].

We’re also adding more seating and gathering places throughout the museum, as well as simple upgrades to bathrooms and nursing areas. A lot of the research has come out in the past few years about how kids learn and process, and we want to put that new information into play at the museum.

How does that apply to the new port exhibit?
We think of the Port of Baltimore as a metaphor for how kids learn—things come in, things go out—and we use [the port] as a way for kids to learn about processes that happen outside of their neighborhood but impact their everyday lives. We start with a simple question like, “How did you get the sneakers that are on your feet? What are all of the jobs involved with making that happen?”

We’re all about teamwork, imagination, and curiosity, and we want kids to think about how things came together using simple geography. It’s about using the exhibit to open up their eyes to new possibilities—we want them to walk in and picture themselves being the captain of that ship or being a stevedore.

During your time as president, you’ve launched several initiatives to make the museum more accessible to underserved communities. Where did that motivation come from and why is it important?
I’ve always felt strongly that the role of a children’s museum is to be accessible to as many people as possible. Some people can’t afford to buy a ticket or may not feel that a museum is a place for them, but if they can come here and feel engaged then we can act as an entryway to other institutions in the city. Access is in our DNA in terms of who we are as an institution, and if you walk through the museum on any given day, you feel that this is a place for everyone.

There aren’t many people who can tell you what Juneteenth is or why it’s a significant holiday to celebrate. June 19 is known as the black Independence Day that has been observed in African-American communities since 1886. The day is meant to commemorate the abolition of slavery in the U.S. and celebrate the advancements of the black community since emancipation.

“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free,” read the general orders from the Union Army’s Maj. Gen. Gordon Grange on June 19, 1865. “This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor.”

The celebration’s roots go back to Galveston, Texas, where it was first celebrated on June 19, 1865 after the slaves there found out two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed that they were freed. It has evolved over the years to families and communities honoring the day with parades, local bands, fellowship, and food. The menu usually consists of red-colored items—red velvet cake, red soda, watermelon, and spicy hot links—with classics like fried chicken and black-eyed peas making an appearance. The crimson color is symbol of ingenuity and resilience in bondage.

But we don’t have to be in Texas to celebrate, so here are some events happening in the Baltimore area.

6/15: BFSA Juneteenth Celebration
The Johns Hopkins University Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA) is hosting an event that will feature speakers including Councilman Brandon Scott and Rev. Donte Hickman with performances by The Fresh Wind Choir of Southern Baptist Church, Keur Khaleyi African Dance Company, and storyteller Janice the Griot. There will also be activities for the whole family with face painting, magic shows, and games to commemorate the holiday. The Johns Hopkins University, Glass Pavilion, Levering Hall, 3400 N. Charles St.

6/16: Books & Breakfast – A Celebration of Juneteenth
The Oak Hill Center for Culture and Education is teaming up with the Baltimore Black Worker Center to commemorate the holiday by reflecting on the progress of African- American communities since the abolition of slavery. This free event will include breakfast and books, worker rights training, and an interactive timeline on the history of African-American work in the U.S. The Oak Hill Center for Culture and Education, 2239 Kirk Ave., 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Free

6/16: Annual Juneteenth Celebration
The Academy Art Museum in Talbot County is partnering with the Chesapeake Children’s Book Festival this year for their annual Juneteenth celebration. Gather for a day of spoken word, dance performances, face painting, and crafts to celebrate the holiday and the year of Frederick Douglass. Academy of Art Museum, 106 South Street, Easton, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Free.

6/16-6/17: Juneteenth Reservoir Hill Garden & Home Tour 2018
Celebrate with the Reservoir Hill community in their 24th annual Juneteenth affair. The neighborhood will come alive with music, historic games and storytelling, and carriage rides with the Arrabers. Participants will also be able to tour some of the historic homes and learn about the history of African Americans in the area. Dovecote Café, 2501 Madison Avenue, 12 p.m.–5 p.m., $15

6/19: Juneteenth Celebration at Port Discovery
It’s never too early to teach children about history. Take the family down to Port Discovery to learn about African-American quilting and its importance in passing messages along during slavery. Kids will get the chance to make their own quilts and play games that will help them identify historical black figures. Port Discovery Children’s Museum, 35 Market Place, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., $15.95

6/19: Juneteenth at Ida B’s Table
Food is a big part of celebrating Juneteenth and what better place to dig in than Ida B’s Table? The restaurant is hosting award-winning culinary author Toni Tipton Martin at their Juneteenth celebration. The evening will include song, fellowship, and, of course, a multi-course dinner of traditional Juneteenth dishes from chef Dave Thomas. Attendees will also receive a signed copy of Martins’ cookbook, The Jemima Code. Ida B’s Table, 235 Holliday Street, 7 p.m.-10 p.m., $125

Even though it’s called Port Discovery and is just a block from the Inner Harbor, Baltimore’s children’s museum has never had an exhibit about the Port of Baltimore.

That will change in the next two years if directors succeed in raising enough money to complete a $10.5 million renovation that will bring new features to the multi level attraction at 35 Market Place, including a centerpiece exhibit focusing on the port and the activity it brings to the city.

Planned for the middle of the museum, the as-yet unnamed “Port Exhibit” will include a giant interactive sculpture that will look like the prow of a cargo ship that broke through the museum’s east wall. Children will get a chance to climb aboard the SS Port Discovery, role-play as the ship’s captain and crew, and learn how goods come to Baltimore from around the world by way of the port.  

Why an exhibit on the port?

“We’re here. We’re in the Fish Market building. It’s part of the city’s history,” said Bryn Parchman, the museum’s president and CEO. “We’re all about learning and exploration. We thought it would be the perfect metaphor for everything that happens here.”

Hundreds of supporters gathered at the museum last week as leaders marked the museum’s 20th anniversary by announcing that they’re entering the final stage of a capital campaign, the first since the museum opened in December of 1998, and presenting a preview of the attractions planned to open starting next year. They also held a moment of silence to honor Baltimore County Executive and gubernatorial candidate Kevin Kamenetz, who died suddenly last Thursday and was an unabashed booster of the museum and the city.

Directors said the museum has already secured $7.5 million during the quiet phase of their “Playing Today, Leading Tomorrow” fund drive, including $1 million from the State of Maryland that was allocated by the General Assembly this spring.
They’re now seeking the remaining $3 million needed to begin the first phase of improvements, starting with last week’s fundraising event and the launch of a website that provides information about the campaign.

“Here at Port Discovery, we believe that every child should have access to a special place where they can stretch their imaginations,” Parchman told the crowd. “Help us to do that.”

Although the museum has made improvements and added exhibits over the years, leaders say, this will be its first comprehensive overhaul since the museum opened inside the city’s former Wholesale Fish Market, which dates from 1906, and is set to provide “immersive” attractions designed to promote play-based learning.

Parchman said the exhibit designs are based on the latest findings from research on how kids learn, surveys of what other children’s museums are doing, and focus group sessions held to determine what subjects Port Discovery should concentrate on.

A key goal for distinguishing Port Discovery from other children’s museums, she said, is to create “authentic” exhibits and experiences that tell visitors stories about Baltimore and Maryland.
The port exhibit fits that goal, she said, because it will give children a way to learn about the port’s role in the region’s economy, while developing math, science, social, and problem-solving skills.

A second major new attraction will be a four-story “SkyClimber” exhibit that will replace the KidWorks climbing structure currently in the center of the museum, but will be on the perimeter of the central space rather than in the middle of it. Framing the cargo ship replica, it’s designed to let kids go on a journey from under water up into the clouds.

Port Discovery was one of the first children’s museums to have a climbing feature, which has been copied by others around the country. Planners say removing the bulky KidWorks apparatus will help open up internal views of the museum that were blocked before because the older climbing structure was so dense.

Museum leaders are aiming to complete their fund drive in time to start construction of those two exhibits in early 2019 and complete them within several months.  They say the museum will remain open during construction, but sections may be off limits for periods of time while work is underway.

More attractions and amenities will be introduced over the next several years, including exhibits on space, art, and nature. Parchman said those subjects were identified through the focus groups and other research as areas worth emphasizing in the renovated museum. On the upper level, she said, will be an exhibit on the history of the Fish Market itself and the role it played in city commerce and as an anchor for Market Place.

The architect for the proposed improvements is Cambridge Seven Associates, lead designer of the 1981 Pier 3 building for the National Aquarium in Baltimore and its Australia-themed addition. Roto Studio of Dublin, Ohio, is the exhibit designer and fabricator.

“We wanted to offer experiences that they couldn’t get anyplace else and that also have a Baltimore connection,” she said. “We felt very strongly about providing a sense of place.”

After this past year, Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of freedom and peace proves to be more important than ever, even more than 50 years after his famous “I Have A Dream” speech. Honor the civil rights icon’s life and legacy this month, and remember his powerful message through a medley of events.

PAINTING DR. KING’S DREAM
1/8-12. Enoch Pratt Free
Library, Southeast Anchor Branch, 3601 Eastern Ave. Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Let the kids unleash their inner artists as they add quotes
or drawings to
the library’s
MLK mural.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CELEBRATION
1/11. The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St.. 5-8 p.m. Free. This multi-faceted event will combine an oratory performance by the Baltimore Urban Debate League, a choral concert by Joyful Noise Gospel Singers, and civic engagement with nonprofit Synergy Baltimore. Guests can also share their dream for a better future and commemorate the night with a free photo booth memento from Pixilated.

I HAVE A DREAM WEEKEND
1/13-15. Port Discovery, 35 Market Pl. Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 12-5 p.m., Mon. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Free-$15.95. Spend the weekend learning about African-American history and MLK’s influential work through educational and interactive performances.

MLK DAY PARADE
1/15. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and Eutaw St., 12-2 p.m. Though no parade was originally schedule for this year, Mayor Catherine Pugh decided to bring it back after complaints from the community. The 18th annual parade will bring together more than 70 marching bands, color guards, dance squads, and more.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARTIN LUTHER KING!
1/15. Cromwell Valley Park, 2002 Cromwell Bridge Rd., Parkville. Sunrise to sunset. Free. Breathe in the crisp winter air while enjoying special admission to the park grounds in honor of
the holiday.

AVAM MLK DAY CELEBRATION
1/15. American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. Enjoy free admission to the art museum to commemorate one of America’s greatest visionaries, with music, workshops, shows, and slices of birthday cake.

I HAVE A DREAM
1/16. Enoch Pratt Free Library, Pennsylvania Avenue Branch, 1531 W. North Ave. 3:30 p.m. Free. Memorialize the civil rights leader through an afternoon crafting session at the Penn-North library.

BLACK HISTORY LIVE
1/21. Baltimore County Public Library, 1301 Reisterstown Rd., Pikesville. 2 p.m. Free. Award-winning teaching artist Culture Queen will lead an afternoon of music, movement, and activities inspired by black history.