This coming Monday, January 18, is Martin Luther King Jr. day. This is a day to celebrate the life of the famous civil rights activist Martin Luther King, who is known for his moving speeches, his nonviolent protests, and his general mission towards racial equality. For most people, this third Monday in January is a holiday, meaning there is no work or school. To help cure possible boredom, there are various events and activities going on in and around Atlanta that commemorate Dr. King and can be exciting ways to occupy this free Monday.

MLK Commemoration (10 am)
The annual commemorative service honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be held on Monday at Ebenezer Baptist Church, the church where Dr. King was baptized and eventually became a pastor for. In order to attend this free event it’s recommend to arrive very early due to limited seating. The President of the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, Dr. William Barber, will be the keynote speaker for the event alongside a gospel artist who will perform.

MLK Ceremony in Cobb (10 am)
Cobb county and the NAACP will be the hosts of another Church oriented MLK honoring titled Pursuing Liberties in the Face of Injustice, this will take place at Turner Chapel AME Church located at 492 North Marietta Pkwy NE, Marietta, GA 30060. There will be entertainment including dramatic readings of Dr. King’s works and interpretations of events from his life along with musical and dance performances. All of this will be followed by a light reception.

MLK Day March and Rally (Assembly time 1:15 pm)
A march and rally orchestrated by the MLK March Committee to honor Dr. King will take place this Monday as well. It is a free activity and participants should arrive at Peachtree Street and Baker (Xernona Clayton Way) Street to assemble at 1:15pm, the actual March will begin at 1:45pm.

MLK Birthday Celebration (11 am – 2:30 pm)
The Children’s Museum of Atlanta will be holding a series of three Martin Luther King Jr. themed activities to pay homage to his legacy for $14.95 a ticket. These events, beginning at 11:00 am and closing at 2:30 pm, include: A Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. (11:00 am -11:20 am), MLK Story Time (12:00 pm -12:20 pm), and MLK Day Music & Movement (2:00 pm -2:20 pm). More information regarding the specific details about these activities can be found here.

MLK Museum Day (All day event)
The Atlanta History Center & Centennial Olympic Games Museum is celebrating MLK day with free admission to the museum (originally the price of a student ticket is $13), including access to the exhibits in the  Margaret Mitchell house, where the novel Gone with the Wind was written. This attraction, organized by the Atlanta History Center, is located a short distance from Piedmont Park, in the midst of Buckhead and is a great educational way to enjoy MLK Day.

MLK National Parks Day (All day event)
In honor of their 100 year anniversary, 16 days this year any park run by the National Park Service that has an admission fee will offer free entree. The first of these 16 days falls on the Monday of MLK Day. Although this offer is available across the United States, some of the eligible parks in Georgia include the Chattahoochee River and Kennesaw Mountain.