Local institutions and organizations will celebrate the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and commemorate his birthday with a variety of events on and around MLK Day.

Did we miss an event? Send us an email at hello@signalakron.org.

Power | Love | Justice Weekend
Jan. 17-20 
Various locations
This three-day event will include community conversations, a gospel concert, a youth symposium and a day of volunteering for young people. Everything is free to attend except for Friday’s gospel concert at Goodyear Theater. Tickets for that are $15, and the concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Registration is requested for the other events. ggcpinc.org 

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture
Sunday, Jan. 19 | 2-4 p.m.
Akron-Summit County Public Library (60 S. High St.)
Author and professor Eddie Glaude Jr. will give the library’s annual MLK Day lecture at the downtown branch. The event is free to attend and will be held in the auditorium. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors will open at 1:30 p.m. services.akronlibrary.org 

Malachi Nurse washes some of the windows inside the Lawton Street Community Center during the Youth Day of Action, part of the local Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance, where young volunteers helped clean up at sites across Akron. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
Malachi Nurse washes some of the windows inside the Lawton Street Community Center during the Youth Day of Action, part of the local 2024 Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance, where young volunteers helped clean up at sites across Akron. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition
Sunday, Jan. 19 | 4 p.m.
First Congregational Church of Akron (292 E. Market St.) 
The theme of this yearly commemoration is “Protect, Educate and Nurture Our Children.” The program will include musical performances, speeches and a scholarship awards ceremony. Free, facebook.com/akronfcc 

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast
Monday, Jan. 20 | 8 a.m.
DoubleTree by Hilton Akron Fairlawn (3180 W. Market St.)
The Akron Urban League’s annual event will feature a lecture from the Rev. Dr. Eric George Vickers, senior pastor of Fairfield Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia. The breakfast will also commemorate the organization’s 100th anniversary. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. $60, akronurbanleague.org 

Martin Luther King Jr. Fitness Celebration
Monday, Jan. 20 | 10-11:30 a.m.
Kohl Family YMCA (477 E. Market St.)
Open to YMCA members and nonmembers, attendees will take part in two workout sessions and hear from Tony Grimes, vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion for the Akron Area YMCA. Afterward, guests can enjoy water, sports drinks and healthy snacks. Free, akronymca.org

Kimyata Cooper III throws a box of expired food into the dumpster behind Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Kimyata Cooper III throws a box of expired food into the dumpster behind Mt. Zion Baptist Church on Cuyahoga Street in Akron as some other youth volunteers help. Cooper and the other boys were participating in the Youth Day of Action, part of the local Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration, where young volunteers helped clean up at sites across Akron. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)

MLK Jr. Day at Akron Children’s Museum
Monday, Jan. 20 | 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Akron Children’s Museum (216 S. Main St.)
The museum is partnering with the Marion F. Walker Queen’s Project for MLK Day. Guests who bring a new book, make a monetary donation or purchase a book off this list will receive a ticket for a free face painting. Those who donate to the book drive will be entered in a raffle for a family membership to the museum. Admission: $7, infants younger than 1: free, akronkids.org 

Environmental Justice and Equity
Monday, Jan. 20 | 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Summit Lake Nature Center (411 Ira Ave.)
Summit Metro Parks will host a discussion about the impact that environmental justice has on Northeast Ohio’s green spaces and policies. Free, summitmetroparks.org 

Free admission to the Akron Art Museum
Monday, Jan. 20 | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Akron Art Museum (1 S. High St.)
Guests can explore the museum’s new and permanent exhibits and enjoy the New York International Children’s Film Festival’s Celebrating Black Stories short films. akronartmuseum.org 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the Akron Zoo
Monday, Jan. 20 | 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Akron Zoo (505 Euclid Ave.)
The Akron Zoo will commemorate MLK Day with the opening of a new exhibit, “Celebrating Black History in Perkins Woods.” The zoo will also host a panel at 3 p.m. called “Youth Opportunity in Akron from Ed Davis to Today” featuring Keith Davis, Robert Davis and Denico Buckley-Knight. Guests can also enjoy free admission all day. akronzoo.org 

A member of the MLK Coalition Choir performs
A member of the MLK Coalition Choir performs during the annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Fundraiser Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, held at the First Congregational Church of Akron. The fundraiser was presented in partnership with Akron’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Coalition and the City of Akron. (Kassi Filkins / Signal Akron)

MLK Community Conversation
Monday, Jan. 20 | 6-7:30 p.m.
Silver Springs Lodge (5027 Stow Road, Stow)
Community members will hear from local speakers and then join their neighbors for breakout conversations around diversity, equity and inclusion. Refreshments will be served. Free, eventbrite.com

MLK and Environmental Justice
Monday, Jan. 20 | 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Virtual
Summit Metro Parks will explore MLK’s legacy in this discussion centered around the roots of environmental justice and its impact today. Free, summitmetroparks.org 

Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
Wednesday, Jan. 22 | 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Stark State College (6200 Frank Ave. NW, North Canton, room M100)
Join Love Akron Executive Director Kemp Boyd for a discussion called “Modeling Restoration: Building Dr. King’s Beloved Community.” Lunch will be provided. Free, docs.google.com 

(Left to right) Daryn Wright, R'riyanna Sims, Mackenzie Alexander, Gabriella Falconer, Jaylen Brunson, and Cienna Harvey work to package up bags of microwave popcorn at Sarah's House.
(Left to right) Daryn Wright, R’riyanna Sims, Mackenzie Alexander, Gabriella Falconer, Jaylen Brunson, and Cienna Harvey work to package up bags of microwave popcorn at Sarah’s House. The girls, all debutantes with the Les Belles Perles Cotillion sponosred by the Akron Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., were participating in the Youth Day of Action, part of the local Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration, where young volunteers helped clean up at sites across Akron. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)

Culture & Arts Reporter (she/her)
Brittany is an accomplished journalist who’s passionate about the arts, civic engagement and great storytelling. She has more than a decade of experience covering culture and arts, both in Ohio and nationally. She previously served as the associate editor of Columbus Monthly, where she wrote community-focused stories about Central Ohio’s movers and shakers. A lifelong Ohioan, she grew up in Springfield and graduated from Kent State University.