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MLK Weekend 2023 in Long Island: Best Things To Do on Long Island with Kids

Celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with activities across Long Island.
Celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with activities across Long Island.
1/11/23 - By Jaime Sumersille

Looking for the best things to do on Long Island this long weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for MLK Weekend.

This three-day weekend on Long Island kicks off with seasonal festivities and ends with commemorations of the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. Start it off by celebrating winter at the Connetquot River State Park Preserve or joining in on the Lunar New Year fun at the Vanderbilt Museum. Meanwhile, the Town of North Hempstead is hosting a model train show at Clinton G. Martin Park, or you can catch The Rainbow Fish Musical at The Showplace in Bellmore.

On MLK Day, the Port Jefferson Library invites Long Islanders to participate in a collaborative art project celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. An MLK parade is held in the Village of Hempstead, and the Long Island Children's Museum welcomes families to participate in a gallery walk of images from the Civil Rights Movement and then create a bell to let freedom ring.

Find more ideas for seasonal fun in our Winter Guide. And, as always, our Long Island Family Activity Calendar is a must-visit for picks any day of the week. 

More Things To Do on Long Island this Week with Kids

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Join children’s librarian at The Quogue Wildlife Refuge for a special reading of The Mitten by Jan Brett. This book is also the chosen book along the Story Book Walk on the trails. Photo courtesy of the refuge
Join children’s librarian at The Quogue Wildlife Refuge for a special reading of The Mitten by Jan Brett. This book is also the chosen book along the Story Book Walk on the trails. Photo courtesy of the refuge

Top Things To Do on Long Island this Weekend with Kids

Cocoa Cup Chalk Pastel Art at the Bryant Library

Roslyn–FREE
Friday, January 13
Make your own hot cocoa cup chalk pastel art at The Bryant Library on January 13. READ MORE

Escape Room: The Upside Down at the Southold Library

Southold–FREE
Friday, January 13
Have fun taking part in The Upside Down Escape Room at the Southold Library–if you dare! READ MORE

Wonders of Science at Lakeshore Learning

New Hyde Park–FREE
Saturday, January 14
We have seen the Wonders of Science and they are -- kinda slimy. Lakeshore Learning stores host a free afternoon of hands-on activities introducing kids to the wonders of science. READ MORE

Winter Celebration at Connetquot River State Park Preserve

Oakdale–FREE
Saturday, January 14
What animal made those tracks in the snow? How does a snowflake form? Can you build an igloo? Venture out for some seasonal fun at the Winter Celebration at Connetquot River State Park Preserve! READ MORE

Snow Globe Family Workshop at The Whaling Museum

Cold Spring Harbor
Saturday, January 14
Celebrate the wonder of arctic whales in this drop-in workshop. Use clay, glitter, and other materials to design and create a wintry whale scene inside a shimmering snow globe. READ MORE

Family Drum Circle at the Cold Spring Harbor Library

Cold Spring Harbor–FREE
Saturday, January 14
Jam out at the Cold Spring Harbor Library during this Family Drum Circle. READ MORE

Storytime at The Quogue Wildlife Refuge

Quogue–FREE
Saturday, January 14
Join children’s librarian Amanda Martocello at The Quogue Wildlife Refuge for a special reading of The Mitten by Jan Brett.  READ MORE

Mastic Beach Library Branch Grand Opening

Mastic Beach–FREE
Saturday, January 14
The Mastic Beach Satellite Branch of the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library is celebrating its grand opening on January 14. READ MORE

Model Train Show at Clinton G. Martin Park

New Hyde Park
Saturday, January 14-Sunday, January 15
Trainville Hobby Depo is setting up a model train show hosted by North Hempstead Town at Clinton G. Martin Park on January 14-15. READ MORE

Shining Snowflakes at LICM

Garden City
Sunday, January 15
Snowflakes are both beautiful and fascinating. Snowflakes are made from about 200 ice crystals that form their hexagonal shape. Make your own beautiful snowflake to take home. READ MORE

Winter Wonders at Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center

Wantagh–FREE
Sunday, January 15
Winters at Jones Beach are just as wonderful as summers. Join an educator to learn about identifying the animal tracks from winter critters and explore how to harvest seeds from dormant plants.  READ MORE

The Rainbow Fish Musical at The Showplace at the Bellmore Movies

Bellmore
Sunday, January 15-Monday, January 16
An undersea musical adventure based on the award-winning book! With shiny, multi-colored scales, Rainbow Fish is the most beautiful fish in all of the ocean, and the only one of his (or her!) kind. When Rainbow Fish refuses to share his vibrant, shimmering scales, the whole ocean seems to turn against the vain creature. READ MORE

Terrarium Making at Suffolk County Farm & Education Center

Yaphank
Monday, January 16
Beat the winter blues and bring the outdoors in at this terrarium making workshop hosted by the Suffolk County Farm on January 16. READ MORE

Sensory Sundaes at Once Upon a Sundae

Rockville Centre
Monday, January 16
Get ready for some messy sundae sensory activities followed by DIY sundaes as Once Upon a Sundae and PlayMakers LI team up to host this Sensory Sundae event on January 16. READ MORE

AdvoKids at LICM: International Left Handers Day

Garden City
Monday, January 16
During this AdvoKids workshop at the Long Island Children's Museum, visitors will learn  the difficulties those who are left-handed often experience in a world made for right-handed people. READ MORE

Martin Luther King Jr. Collaborative Art Project at the Port Jefferson Library

Port Jefferson–FREE
Monday, January 16
Drop in to the Port Jefferson Library and celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Each participant (child and grownup) will color a hand to match their unique skin tone. READ MORE

Martin Luther King Jr. Day 30th Annual Celebration

Hempstead–FREE
Monday, January 16
The Village of Hempstead honors the Martin Luther King 30th Annual Celebration on January 16 at 9am with a parade will step off from Kennedy Memorial Park. READ MORE

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