Jan 13, 201202:32 PMReal Moms of NJ
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FeedMemorable Events and Activities Honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Day
This Monday, January 16, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. There are events in New Jersey all weekend in celebration of Dr. King's memory, many with an emphasis on unity, tolerance, and volunteering to honor his legacy.
Here are a few local celebrations happening this weekend—Saturday, January 14 through Monday, January 16:
- Florham Park's Imagine That!!! is hosting a Celebrate Martin Luther King activity in which kids can make a picture of their dream to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. $9.95/child, $7.95/adult, all ages, no registration required. (All day, Saturday and Sunday)
- Express Yourself Studios in Maplewood is holding its annual workshop Celebrate Dr. King: Explore the Dream Through Art. $15 per participant, pre-registration suggested but walk-ins are permitted if space permits. Ages 4 to 12. (11 am-3 pm, Monday). Participants are also asked to bring a canned or boxed non-perishable food item to be donated to the Wallace Chapel Food Pantry.
- The Newark Museum is having a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day with activities all day including stories about the life and legacy of Dr. King, hands-on workshops, and showings of the film of his famous speech, I Have a Dream. Free with suggested museum admission, no registration required. (12:30 to 4:30 pm on Monday)
​Next weekend, on Sunday, January 22, there is a Martin Luther King, Jr. Concert sponsored by the Raices Cultural Center being held at the First Reformed Church in New Brunswick from 1 to 2:30 pm. The Rainbow Children's Choir and the Raices Culture Center Ensemble will be performing songs representing diverse heritages in a concert promoting peace, love, and understanding. Free.
And if you're not able to attend one of these Martin Luther King Jr. Day events, there are lots of easy, fun, and educational activities you can do with your kids to commemorate the day:
- Make a Martin Luther King Jr. Day handprint banner, symbolizing unity and working together. You could also do this craft as paper dolls, all holding hands in unity.
- Remember Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech with this handprint poem craft.
- Older kids can use these "I Can Dream" like Dr. King sheets to write about their own dreams.
And, of course, what better way to celebrate his legacy than to spend Martin Luther King Jr. Day volunteering (check with your town officials, they may be hosting a day to help others, some of which are called "A 'Day On,' Not a Day Off."
Photo credit: Library of Congress (public domain).
