Many spots around the city are celebrating MLK Day in Philadelphia by honoring Dr. King’s legacy of civic engagement and community care, and we’ve rounded up where to commemorate the occasion on Jan. 20 and throughout the long weekend.
Fairmount Park Conservancy
On Monday, Jan. 20, Fairmount Park Conservancy will host a day of volunteering in honor of Dr. King in West Fairmount Park. From 10 a.m. to noon, volunteers can remove invasive plant species, do trail maintenance, help with trash clean-up, and restore the sidewalk paths in the park. This year’s event will take place along Wynnefield Avenue and North Georges Hill Drive. Participants will be provided with all necessary tools and materials (including gloves), registration for the event is available online.
The Philadelphia Orchestra
This MLK Day, the Orchestra’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Concert will kick off at 3 p.m. at the Girard College Chapel. Led by conductor Damon Gupton, the concert will honor the life and legacy of Dr. King through the power of music.
According to a release, the performance will include works by Black composers, including John Rosamond Johnson and James Weldon Johnson’s anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and Richard Smallwood’s “Total Praise,” (both featuring the choir from the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts), plus much more. The concert will also be broadcast live on WRTI 90.1 FM. The performance is free, but Philadelphians should still register to score a ticket and a seat online.
2101 S College Ave., philorch.ensembleartsphilly.org
The African American Museum in Philadelphia
The AAMP is celebrating MLK Day in Philadelphia with a full weekend of activities. From Jan. 17 to 20, the venue will offer different events plus reduced admission (on Jan. 17, 18 and 19) and free entry (on Jan. 20) to the museum. Other highlights include a brunch on Jan. 19, celebrating the legacy of the Black Panthers’ Free Breakfast Program, and a special visit from the Phillie Phanatic on Jan. 20.
MLK Day itself will also hold a drumming circle, coloring activities, DJs playing music throughout the museum’s galleries, and Secure the Bag: A real-world budget simulation and a life-sized, interactive game used to teach participants about finances in the real world. A full schedule can be found online.
701 Arch St., aampmuseum.org
Historic Philadelphia
Franklin Square and the Betsy Ross House will be honoring MLK’s community service legacy by hosting a winter clothing drive for the Bethesda Project, a local nonprofit organization that provides shelter, housing, and supportive services to adults experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia.
From Jan. 18 to 20, visitors can bring new scarves, hats, and gloves to donate, and in return, get one free Parx Liberty Carousel ride or free admission to the Betsy Ross House (per person with each donation.) Donations can be dropped off at Franklin Square (6th and Race streets) or the Betsy Ross House (239 Arch Street).
Museum of the American Revolution
Locals can head to the MoAR to commemorate MLK Day in Philadelphia from Jan. 17 to 20. During that time period, visitors can catch a theatrical performance of “Meet Elizabeth Freeman” starring Katelyn Appiah-Kubi, a daily 60-minute Black Voices of the Revolution Gallery Highlights Tour, hands-on activities based on poetry written by Phillis Wheatley and much more.
Philadelphians can also add their answer to a collaborative community engagement activity wall located in the Museum’s lobby as part of an ongoing project. A full schedule of events can be found online.
101 S 3rd St., amrevmuseum.org
