MLK Day is a National holiday that honors and celebrates the legacy and life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. These celebrations take place in the form of community events, a day of service, or through cultural experiences.
The commemorative day off in Chicago offers a chance for locals and visitors alike to experience the impact of the incredible civil rights leader in a way that suits them best. From free museum days to special community events, there is plenty to do on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Chicago.
Celebrate MLK Day with this guide to things to do in Chicago.
MLK Day Events and Activities
Special MLK Day Events at Chicago Museums
Time & Date: January 20, 2025, Time varies
Location: Various Museums in Chicago
Price: Free
Chicago Museums make it easy to enjoy MLK Day in Chicago with family-friendly activities and events. Visit the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Science and Industry, and The Field Museum as they host special events to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. Additionally, don’t miss the chance to explore the Chicago History Museum which will offer free admission to Illinois residents on this celebratory day.
MLK Day Embracing Humanity
Time & Date: January 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Grace & Peace Sanctuary, 1856 N Leclaire Ave.
Price: $27 – $67
Join the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago for a special celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with Laurence Ralph Ph.D., acclaimed author, Princeton University Professor of Human Rights and Professor of Anthropology and Public Affairs, and the Co-Director of the Center on Transnational Policing. This event will feature a panel discussion and a collaborative art installation.
What Now: Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
Time & Date: January 15, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 5416 S Cornell Ave.
Price: Free admission, sign-up is required
Honor the legacy of Dr. King with the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago. The theme for this year’s celebration explores the question and the answers to “What Now?” As a community, and as the body of Christ, how do we organize, strategies, and plan for the next four years? How do we respond to the implementation of Project 2025? “What Now?” And more importantly, how do we heed Dr. King’s advice to “keep moving forward?” The event will include a praise service, student readings, and a panel discussion followed by a reception.
Dr. MLK Jr. Day Skate Night
Time & Date: January 20, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park & Family Entertainment Center, 1219 W. 76th St
Price: $12 – $20
Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a night full of skating and family-friendly fun on the South Side of Chicago.
This all-ages event includes desserts, dance battles, games, and more.
BLACK BEING: Chicago Sinfonietta’s annual MLK Tribute Concert
Time & Date: January 20, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Auditorium Theatre, 50 E Ida B Wells Dr
Price: $27 – $67
Join the Chicago Sinfonietta for their annual MLK Tribute Concert. This year, Maestra Mei-Ann Chen dedicated the entire performance to Flutronix’s genre-defying musical composition, “Black Being.” This immersive experience gives voice to the complexities of Black womanhood, With only two performances, this is a truly one-of-a-kind event celebrating influential creators and socially conscious change makers. Performances take place at the Auditorium Theater.
Forest Preserves of Cook County MLK Day of Service
Time & Date: January 18 – 20, 2025 at various times
Location: Various Forest Preserves around Cook County
Price: Free admission, sign-up is required
Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a day of service at the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Spend the afternoon at various preserve locations for litter clean-up, crafts, and more.
The North Lawndale Racial Justice Ride
Time & Date: January 20, 2025 at 12:30 p.m.
Location: 3750 West Ogden Avenue, Lawndale Christian Fitness Center
Price: Free Admission
Celebrate MLK Day with Equiticity for their annual North Lawndale Racial Justice Ride. Celebrate and honor Martin Luther King Day while pedaling towards justice and equity. There is an optional post-ride movie screening that will take place directly after the ride.
MLK Day 2025 – Echoes of Freedom
Time & Date: January 20, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 South Cornell Ave.
Price: Free
Visit the Hyde Park Art Center for their free, day-long annual event celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King—this year’s theme is Echoes of Freedom. This event blends live music, thought-provoking film, engaging art activities, and inspiring discussions to create a rich, multi-dimensional experience for all ages.
2025 MLK Remembrance with DePaul University
Time & Date: January 22, 2025 from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: DePaul University, 1 East Jackson Blvd.
Price: Free Admission
Join DePaul University for an MLK Day community remembrance event, one that remembers the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a champion for equal rights and dignity for all. This year’s featured speaker will be
J.T. Wilson III (JD ’02), a diverse lead trial attorney with extensive experience in crisis management, whistleblower cases, biometric information privacy compliance and litigation, class actions, and labor and employment law.
NDORH 2025: Art Making Change
Time & Date: January 21, 2025 from 2:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Little Black Pearl Art and Design Academy, 1060 East 47th St.
Price: $0 – $50
Experience Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation at the Little Black Pearl in Chicago. This is a full-day event featuring a creative arts open house, panel and community discussion, and concert.
Volunteer Opportunities: Chicago MLK Day of Service
Honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by participating in impactful and meaningful service opportunities that build stronger, more united communities in Chicago.
- Volunteer with City Year: Join City Year Chicago for their annual “day ON, not a day off” event, dedicated to bridging divides and strengthening neighborhoods through service. Activities include mural painting, community beautification, and youth engagement projects. Register by Monday, January 13, 2025.
- Serve with AmeriCorps: Embrace Dr. King’s vision of a Beloved Community by contributing your time and talents to transformative service projects across the city. Small acts of kindness and collective volunteerism have the power to create lasting impact and foster unity.
- Participate with Chicago Cares: Chicago Cares organizes service projects that connect volunteers with diverse community initiatives. Opportunities may include food distribution, literacy support, and neighborhood revitalization projects.
- Explore Volunteer Match: Discover even more ways to give back by browsing Volunteer Match’s platform for service opportunities aligned with your interests, skills, and passions.
No matter how you choose to serve, your contribution helps honor Dr. King’s vision and strengthens the bonds that tie us all together.
