MLK Day Atlanta, Martin Luther King Day in Atlanta, things to do on MLK Day
The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. lives on in Atlanta, the city in which the famous minister and scholar led the American Civil Rights Movement.
There is no shortage of things to do on MLK Day, which is Monday, January 15, 2024, or over the holiday weekend.
We invite you to celebrate Dr. King’s memory through one of these activities or events.
You can also check our full events calendar for January 15th, but remember that some activities, like those hosted by the King Center, will start the week before the Monday holiday.
At the bottom of the post, you’ll find a calendar listing of general activities taking place over the MLK Day holiday weekend — including ice skating, drive-in movies, and more.
Things to do over the MLK Day weekend
This list will continue to grow as we get closer to the date.
♦ Volunteer for an MLK Day of Service Project
Did you know that MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service?
If you want to volunteer for a project, you can find an MLK Day of Service project at this clearinghouse site. Just check the box for “MLK Day” and enter your zip code in the green box. You an also specify how many miles outward you want to search.
Examples of service projects include cleaning up a park, delivering meals, planting flowers, painting murals, and more.
There is a very long list of MLK Day service activities on the Hands on Atlanta site.
Want to focus your efforts on your immediate community?
You can find MLK Day service projects through community newsletters, municipal websites, Facebook groups, etc. Most of the city calendars we look at regularly include service projects. And if you have a favorite park or non-profit organization, check its website or social media pages to see if there’s a scheduled Day of Service this year.
♦ Cheer on a parade in Dekalb
Monday, Jan. 15, 2024
10 a.m.
FREE & open to the public
The NAACP DeKalb Branch will observe the MLK Holiday with a parade.
The procession will launch from Chapel Hill Middle School (3535 Dogwood Farm Rd. in Decatur) and march to MLK High School (3991 Snapfinger Rd., Lithonia). This is about a 2 mile route down Snapfinger Rd.
More info here
♦ Enjoy an organ recital and choral concert
Sunday, January 14, 2024
St. Lukes Episcopal Church
3 to 5 p.m.
FREE
This free concert is open to the public.
A reception follows in Budd Hall.
More info
♦ Watch the I Have a Dream speech on a giant screen
Monday, Jan. 15, 2024
The Plaza at Colony Square
FREE
Colony Square will host viewings of the famous I Have a Dream speech on the top of every hour from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This will take place outdoors on The Plaza. You can take advantage of the Winter Squares, with cozy seating and a fire pit.
More info
♦ Join the FREE celebration in Cobb County
Monday, Jan. 15, 2024
10 a.m. to noon
County leaders and the local branch of the NAACP host this annual celebration. It is FREE and open to the public. The celebration takes place at the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre at the Cobb Civic Center. It includes music, dance, spoken word, and other performances — as well as the presentation of a local service award.
More info
♦ See a FREE performance of Dear Dr. King
Monday, January 15, 2024
3 p.m.
FREE with advance reservation
Woodruff Arts Center (Rich Theatre)
This annual tradition is back once again. Each MLK Day, young artists from the Palefsky Collision Project reconvene to put on this performance, based on letters to Dr. King. It takes place in the Rich Theatre, at the Woodruff Arts Center.
Reserve tickets here
♦ Join a FREE community run
Saturday, January 13, 2024
9 to 11 a.m.
FrontRunners Atlanta sponsors this annual community run — there is no registration fee. The 6-mile run starts at John Howell Memorial Park (869 Virginia Ave), heads to Ebenezer Baptist Church, and returns to the starting point. Bagels and coffee will be served afterward.
More info
♦ Get FREE admission at the Center for Civil and Human Rights
Saturday, January 13, 2024 will be a FREE admission day!
Reserve your free ticket here
The Center will be open for the entire MLK Day Weekend, from Friday, Jan. 12th through Monday, Jan. 15th (it is usually closed on Mondays).
You’ll be able to browse the permanent exhibits, enjoy family-friendly activities, and see the newly unveiled exhibit that features items from the Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. collection.
♦ Visit the APEX Museum
Open Tuesday thru Saturday
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Browse museum galleries that celebrate black heritage. Exhibits include Sweet Auburn, Women in STEM, The Georgia Negro, and more. The mission of the African-American Panoramic Experience (APEX) Museum is to accurately interpret and present history from an African-American perspective.
The APEX Museum is located at 135 Auburn Avenue in downtown Atlanta.
♦ Explore MLK’s legacy at the Children’s Museum of Atlanta
MLK Day Celebration
Jan. 13th – 15th, 2024
Enjoy scheduled activities that celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Learn about Dr. King’s life and his famous “I Have a Dream” speech on stage, then explore his legacy through activities in the Creativity Café, and work on a collaborative mural. Paid admission required.
♦ Head to the Atlanta History Center for a FREE celebration
Jan. 15, 2024
1o a.m. to 4 p.m.
This FREE event will feature trivia, crafts, performances, interactive simulations, and more.
You can get a free ticket via Eventbrite, plus find more info on the event.
♦ Tour the Martin Luther King Historic Site
NOTE: Tours of the MLK Birth Home have been suspended for renovation. It is expected to open again in 2025.
After a long hiatus due to Covid, the FREE tours are back, although they’ve been modified for safety. The tours are now limited to groups of ten people and will limit time indoors to just ten minutes of the 30-minute tour.
It can be tricky to get a spot on this 30-minute, ranger-led tour of the home where MLK spent the first 12 years of his life. The tour slots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the tour. There are no advance reservations. The first tour is at 10 a.m. and the last tour of the day begins at 4 p.m.
Your best bet for getting a tour spot? Arrive early in the day, sign up for an empty time slot, and be prepared to wait several hours — you can spend the time visiting the other MLK attractions and historic landmarks nearby.
♦ Pay your respects at the Crypt
While many of the buildings remain closed, visitors can still stop by the tomb of Reverend and Mrs. King, with its eternal flame — a symbol of the continuing effort to realize the dream.
The MLK World Peace Rose Garden is also open, although there’s not much in bloom in January.
♦ Attend a service at Ebenezer Baptist Church
Besides the usual Sunday church services, there is a Martin Luther King Day Annual Commemorative Service.
It takes place at 10 a.m. on January 15, 2024.
More info
Ebenezer Baptist Church is located at:
101 Jackson St.
Atlanta, GA 30312
Photo courtesy of Flickr user Counse, under a Creative Commons license.
♦ Pop into a National Park for FREE
Visit a National Park for FREE on MLK Day.
For a list of the best National Parks closest to Atlanta, click here.
♦ Run the MLK Day 5K with drum line
Let Freedom Run — this race is famous for the 3-mile drum line all along the course. The race starts at the First Baptist Church of Doraville (5935 New Peachtree Road, Doraville, Ga 30340), which is just across from the Doraville MARTA Station.
Come early for the music, beginning at 8 a.m. The run starts at 9 a.m.
Register online, for $35.
♦ Enjoy a family-friendly celebration in Sandy Springs
January 15, 2024
1 to 6 p.m.
The city of Sandy Springs is hosting a family-friendly event at its City Springs complex. It is FREE and open to the community, and you can park for free as well in the adjacent parking deck.
The event features interactive art projects and a movie.
Our Friend, Martin is an animated children’s film about Dr. Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement. The movie plot follows two young friends who travel back in time to meet Dr. King. Screenings at 1:15 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. More info
Kids will be able to complete art and crafts projects throughout the day. There will also be games and storytime.
More info
♦ Head to Henry County for a parade!
The Henry Count NAACP will kick off the celebration on Saturday, January 13th at 8:30am with its annual Prayer Breakfast at Red Oak UMC in Stockbridge, GA.
The celebration ends on Monday, January 15th, with the Peace Parade at the PAC Center in McDonough, GA, followed by the Community Program and Choir taking place at Free Life Experience Church off of Rock Quarry Road in Stockbridge, GA.
More info
♦ Enjoy Gwinnett County’s MLK Day Parade & Celebration
January, 15, 2024
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The day begins with a ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Gwinnett Justice Center in downtown Lawrenceville (75 Langley Drive).
The parade begins at noon, stepping off at the Justice Center and heading to Gwinnett Central High School (564 W. Crogan Street in Lawrenceville).
After that, the public is invited to the high school for a celebration from 2 to 5 p.m. — featuring food, vendors, and entertainment.
More info
♦ Attend Brookhaven’s MLK Day Celebration
January 16, 2023
5 to 7 p.m.
Brookhaven will host its annual MLK Day Dinner and Program.
This year it takes place at the Lynwood Recreation Center.
Tickets are $10 per person.
Details here
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