Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Los Angeles

Located in the eastern end of Exposition Park, the California African American Museum (CAAM) houses a permanent collection of 5,000 objects that span landscape painting and portraiture, modern and contemporary art, historical objects and print materials, and mixed-media artworks.

Taking place on Monday, January 20 from 10am to 3:30pm, King Day at CAAM is "a day on, not off!" Come together and honor Martin Luther King Jr. with a performance by the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, discussions with the King Study Group, family activities, food trucks and more. Free with RSVP at Eventbrite.

This year, CAAM has added a book donation drive in support of the Little Free Library at the Crenshaw Family YMCA. Guests are invited to donate children’s books—new or gently used—that can inspire, educate, and entertain young readers and foster a love for reading in the children in the community. Picture books, early readers, and chapter books are all welcome! Donations can be dropped off at the museum throughout the day-long festivities.

In May 1964, Martin Luther King Jr. passionately and persuasively addressed 15,000 Angelenos at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on the issues of race relations and human dignity. In 1994, Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, which transformed Martin Luther King Jr. Day into a national day dedicated to volunteer service in honor of Dr. King's legacy.

L.A. Works will continue its long tradition of honoring Dr. King’s legacy with the MLK Day Volunteer Festival: Take Action to Support our Beloved Community. Taking place at the Coliseum from 12:30 to 3:30pm, this event will feature hands-on activities for participants to address needs within the areas of health equity, food insecurity, STEAM education and more.

For more volunteer opportunities in Los Angeles, check out our guide.

Presented by the Congress Of Racial Equality of California (CORE-CA), the Kingdom Day Parade is regarded as "the world's largest and longest-running life celebration" of Martin Luther King Jr. With the theme "Peace and Unity, Let it Start with Us" the 40th edition of the parade is taking place on Saturday, January 18 from 10am to 2pm and will be televised live on ABC7.

The parade route starts at Western Avenue and runs west along Martin Luther King Boulevard, turns south on Crenshaw Boulevard, then east on Vernon Avenue before it ends at Leimert Park. The post-parade festival at Leimert Park features music, dancing, food and more.

David Oyelowo gives a stirring performance as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, a powerful historical drama from director Ava DuVernay. Avoiding the traditional approach to the Hollywood biopic, DuVernay’s film focuses on Dr. King’s struggle for equal voting rights, culminating in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery march. Nominated for Best Picture, Selma won Best Original Song for “Glory” by Common and John Legend.

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the film’s wide release, this program will conclude with a post-screening conversation that will dive into the craft of the filmmakers, DuVernay’s approach to biographical filmmaking, and a detailed history of the film's production.

Scheduled to appear: director Ava DuVernay, actor and producer Oprah Winfrey, and actors Omar Dorsey, Carmen Ejogo, Andre Holland, David Oyelowo, Wendell Pierce, LaKeith Stanfield and Lorraine Toussaint.

Open since 1986, Children’s Book World is a full-service children's bookshop in West LA, stocking more than 80,000 titles for children, parents, teachers and collectors. Every Saturday morning at 10:30am, Children’s Book World presents storytellers, author readings, musical performances and entertainment for kids and families.

On Saturday, January 18, Children's Book World welcomes Ina Buckner-Barnette (aka The Sunshine Storyteller), who will perform an interactive storytelling concert for preschoolers that celebrates trailblazing Black inventors, artists and leaders. Engage young minds with inspiring tales of change and creativity. Perfect for curious little ones eager to learn and dream big!

Taking place at Otis College from 9am to 2:30pm, The Art of Justice: MLK Day of Service and Expression is a comprehensive day-long event that combines community service, artistic expression, and education to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy. Otis students, faculty, staff, and alums will serve the community by hosting K-12 students from local schools and youth organizations on campus for a day of art and education.