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MLK Weekend 2023 in NYC: Best Things To Do with Kids

Pay homage to the life and legacy of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a celebration at the Brooklyn Children's Museum. Photo courtesy of the museum
Pay homage to the life and legacy of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a celebration at the Brooklyn Children's Museum. Photo courtesy of the museum
1/11/23 - By Drew Kristofik

Looking for the best things to do in New York City this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this long MLK weekend.

The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend in New York City offers plenty of opportunities to honor the man and his mission. Kids can check out the FREE BAM-hosted tribute to the civil rights leader in Fort Greene, head to the Brooklyn Children's Museum for puppet performances and a volunteer project, salute the Freedom Quilters of Gee's Bend, and create a community mural at CMOM. Be sure to check our calendar for Monday, January 16, for a complete list of MLK activities.

What about the rest of the weekend? The Thunderbird American Indian Dance Concert is back at the Theater for the New City, you can hit the bumper cars on ice at Bryant Park, and the Brooklyn Museum is hopping on the Lunar New Year bandwagon with a lion dance and more.

Our top picks for the long weekend are below, but if you're looking for more ideas, our NYC Winter Activities Guide and Family Activity Calendar are well-stocked.

More Things To Do in New York City This Week With Kids

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Create your own brilliant compositions using bountiful squares of fabric scraps to honor MLK's birthday and Freedom Quilters of Gee’s Bend. Photo courtesy of Wave Hill
Create your own brilliant compositions using bountiful squares of fabric scraps to honor MLK's birthday and Freedom Quilters of Gee’s Bend. Photo courtesy of Wave Hill

Top Things To Do MLK Weekend in NYC

Bryant Park Bumper Cars on Ice

Midtown West
Opens Friday, January 13
Bryant Park's bumper cars slide, spin, and bump... on the ice! Book a 10-minute whirl online in advance. A new batch of tickets is released daily for dates two weeks in advance. READ MORE

Thunderbird American Indian Dance Concert

Lower East Side
Opens Friday, January 13
The 2024 Thunderbird American Indian Dance Concert features dances, stories, and traditional music from native peoples of the Northeast, Southwest, and Great Plains regions. READ MORE

Family Fridays: Nothing but Net - Albrecht Dürer and animation

Chelsea–FREE
Friday, January 13
Mathematician Rinus Roelofs leads families on an exploration of the origin of animation, and shares the beauty of the folding process as multiple nets (3D models) are combined to create sometimes surprising results. READ MORE

Outdoor Skills: Orienteering

Bay Ridge, Brooklyn–FREE
Saturday, January 14
Kids learn the basics of using a map and compass and discover clues hidden around Owl's Head Park to help complete a map-based scavenger hunt. READ MORE

MOCAKIDS Lunar New Year Meet & Greet

Lower East Side–FREE
Saturday, January 14
Begin the Lunar New Year celebrations early with author Katrina Moore and illustrator Xindi Yan. Katrina reads their new book, Grumpy New Year, and then kids can stick around for an especially grumpy (but cute!) drawing activity with Xindi. READ MORE

Gather around the Campfire

Forest Park, Queens–FREE
Saturday, January 14
The Urban Park Rangers host an afternoon of campfire activities, including stories, songs, and more. READ MORE

Family Art Project: Freedom Quilters of Gee's Bend

Riverdale, the Bronx
Saturday, January 14-Sunday, January 15
In 1966, Martin Luther King Jr. visited the Gee’s Bend community in rural Alabama and the Freedom Quilting Bee was established. Create your own brilliant compositions using bountiful squares of fabric scraps to honor King’s birthday and the inspiring women quilters of Gee’s Bend. READ MORE

Celebrating the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Saturday, January 14-Monday, January 16
Celebrate the life and legacy of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through interactive performances, protest marches, community art programs, and volunteer projects! READ MORE

Discovery Hike: Winter Wildlife

Rockaway, Queens
Sunday, January 15
The Urban Park Rangers lead kids on a search for animals that call Rockaway Beach their home, including waterfowl, shorebirds, mammals, invertebrates, and even the occasional seal. READ MORE

The Rock n Roll Playhouse Presents The Music of Coldplay for Kids

Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Sunday, January 15
Kids get their groove on to the music of Coldplay at this weekly family-friendly concert. READ MORE

Sunday Art: Lunar New Year Celebration

Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Sunday, January 15
Visit the Brooklyn Museum's Beaux-Arts Court to create artwork inspired by the Lunar New Year. Then, enjoy a Lion Dance performance by the New York Chinese Freemasons Athletic Club. READ MORE

QC Annual MLK Day Celebration with Samara Joy

Flushing, Queens
Sunday, January 15
Share the dream at Kupferberg Center for the Arts annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration, with a special performance by Grammy-nominated jazz songstress Samara Joy, a keynote address by the event’s honoree, Dr. Jelani Cobb, a recognition ceremony, and a post-show reception. READ MORE

CMOM January

Upper West Side
Wednesday, January 11-Monday January 16
CMOM kicks off the new year with a Three Kings Day celebration, a salute to Martin Luther King, and Lunar New Year fun. READ MORE

MLK Day of Service

Forest Hills, Queens–FREE
Monday, January 16
Commonpoint Queens offers a variety of service projects for volunteers in honor of Dr. King’s legacy. Opportunities are available at the Sam Field Center (Little Neck), Central Queens (Forest Hills), and Youth Opportunity Hub (Jamaica). READ MORE

Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.

Cobble Hill, Brooklyn–FREE
Monday, January 16
BAM hosts its FREE annual Brooklyn tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., and everyone is invited! The celebration brings together artists and civic leaders to commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. King.  READ MORE

MLK Celebration

Snug Harbor, Staten Island
Monday, January 16
Choreographer Walter Rutledge joins forces with song stylist and pianist Jeanine Odom to share Civil Rights-era songs and stories honoring Martin Luther King Jr. throughout the day. READ MORE

34th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative March

Upper West Side–FREE
Monday, January 16
Manhattan Country School eighth graders honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by taking to the streets of Manhattan to speak out about what they consider to be the most pressing civil rights issues of their time. READ MORE

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at the Jackie Robinson Museum

Soho
Monday, January 16
Honor the legacy of Dr. King and the fight for civil rights at the Jackie Robinson Museum, where you can learn about Jackie Robinson and Dr. King’s close friendship and their collaboration during landmark campaigns of the civil rights movement. READ MORE

Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Prospect Park

Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Monday, January 16
Commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a day of service in Prospect Park, focusing efforts around the Music Pagoda in Brooklyn’s backyard and spreading wood chips, raking leaves, removing litter, and more. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park
National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath)
Kupferberg Center for the Arts, Queens College