Given the political division so evident in last year’s presidential election, there’s no better time to come together and celebrate the life of one legendary man who fought for equality, unity, and peace. Through music, dance, and many other mediums, these eight events help commemorate and immortalize some of Martin Luther King Jr.’s most important messages.

Films

SELMA
Jan. 9, Enoch Pratt Free Library, 1531 W. North Ave. 5 p.m. Jan. 18, Enoch Pratt Free Library, 3601 Eastern Ave. 12:30-7:30 p.m. This film depicts MLK Jr.’s violent and dangerous campaign through the South in 1965, a campaign that ended in a triumphant march on Selma.

RACE
Jan. 16. Carroll Arts Center, 91 W. Main St., Westminster. 1-3 p.m. In honor of MLK Day, see this 2016 film about African-American Olympic athlete Jesse Owens.

Festivals

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY
Jan. 16. American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Celebrate MLK Day with guided tours, music, and special events throughout the day, with a birthday cake fit for a king.

MLK DAY CELEBRATION
Jan. 16. Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St. 12-4 p.m. Honor King’s legacy with family activities including crafts, a film screening, and dance performances by the Full Circle Dance Company.

Family

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. PARADE
Jan. 16. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. 12-2 p.m. See community bands, color guards, dance groups, civic organizations, steppers, floats, and more in this 17th annual parade.

THROWBACK THURSDAY: I HAVE A DREAM
Jan. 26. Enoch Pratt Free Library, 3601 Eastern Ave. 5:30 p.m. Give your full attention to this legendary speech, played aloud in its entirety.

Discussion

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CELEBRATION
Jan. 12. The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St. 5-8 p.m. The Baltimore Urban Debate League and Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle discuss King’s accomplishments with presentations, art making, and a ’60s-themed photo booth.

CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
Jan. 14. The Maryland Historical Society, 201 W. Monument St. 2 p.m. Prolific author, labor economist, and educator Julianne Malveaux presents the library’s commemorative annual lecture on MLK’s impactful career.

EAT

March 8: Forno’s Anniversary Party

Forno, 17 N. Eutaw St. 4-10p.m. Free.

It may be Italian restaurant and wine bar Forno’s fifth birthday this Friday, but you’ll be the one getting all the gifts. Wine and dine the night away at this theater-district favorite with all-night happy hour specials, complimentary small bites, whiskey samplings, and plenty of their signature brick-oven pizzas to go around. Who said adults can’t have fun at a kid-aged party?

DRINK

March 9: Canton’s Irish Stroll

O’Donnell St. 1-8p.m. $20.

Relax, you’re not seeing double . . . at least not yet. This St. Paddy’s Day celebration is a week early, but that won’t stop dedicated locals from hitting the pavement for this 18th annual bar crawl to eight boozy stops across Canton. With drink specials starting at $3 at favorite haunts like Southern Provisions, Claddagh Pub, and Walt’s Inn, this drink-until-you-drop stroll is a true weekend pot of gold.

SEE

March 10-30: Reality Bites

MAXgallery, 126 N. Madeira St. Fri.-Sat. 2-5 p.m. Free.

Mexican poet and diplomat Octavio Paz once said, “Reality is not what we see, but what we discover.” This weekend, head to MAXgallery in Butcher’s Hill to be one of the first people to experience Reality Bites, a bold exhibition that pays homage to abstraction in painting. While the paintings will be on display until the end of the month, stop by the opening reception on Sunday afternoon to get a first look at works by artists like MICA professor Dan Dudrow and multi-discipline Israeli artist Shaul Tzemach.

HEAR

March 8: Robyn vs. Gaga Dance Party

Ottobar, 2549 N. Howard St. 9:30p.m. $7.

Let’s be honest: Can you think of any other female artists having a moment like Lady Gaga and Robyn are right now? If you’re still recovering from Mother Monster’s, ahem, emotional performance with heart-eyes-emoji Bradley Cooper at the Grammy Awards or have been playing electro pop legend Robyn’s new album, Honey, on repeat since it dropped in October, we’ve got the perfect Friday night plans for you. Take over the Ottobar dance floor for a night of hits, remixes, and deep cuts by these pop queens, and enter to win two tickets to Robyn’s sold-out show the following night at The Anthem in Washington, D.C.

DO

March 8: The Maryland Historical Society Turns 175

Maryland Historical Society, 201 W. Monument St. 2-5p.m. Free.

What are you waiting for? Grab your party hat and join jovial European icon King Gambrinus and English noblewoman Lady Baltimore in celebrating the Maryland Historical Society’s 175th birthday. This Friday, our beloved state’s library and museum preserve will prove that you’re never be too old for founding day fun with a cake-cutting ceremony and a banner-making celebration that will have you partying like it’s 1844.