7 Ways To Celebrate Martin Luther King Day (Free Printables!)

Looking for ideas for Martin Luther King day? Here's some meaningful "I have a dream" activities and other great ways to celebrate MLK day.

CELEBRATING MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY 

More than ever we need to honor and celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King! You don't have to wait until the official US holiday in January to celebrate what Dr. King did, however, MLK Day is always a great chance to talk about him and the great work he did! 

this awesome idea!

WHEN IS MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY? 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is always celebrated on the third Monday of January. This year, Martin Luther King Day is on January 16, 2023. 

Martin Luther King's birthday is January 15th. In 1983, his birthday became an official federal holiday.  By the year 2000, all 50 states made Martin Luther King Jr. day a state government holiday.

Since this is a federal holiday in the United States, banks are closed. 

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR ACTIVITIES 

Without further ado, here are some fun and meaningful ways you can celebrate this holiday.

"I HAVE A DREAM " BREAKFAST

Most people have the day off, so gather your family or friends for an "I have a dream" breakfast.

Have everyone post a dream they have on the wall and enjoy a delicious breakfast together. 

Need a breakfast idea? My sister hosts a waffle bar with this delicious buttermilk syrup on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and it's just so fun.

Take the time to talk about Martin Luther and how he had courage to do something hard. 

WATCH THE "I HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH 

A meaningful Martin Luther King activity is to listen to part or all of Dr. King's speeches on YouTube. 

READ BOOKS ABOUT MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. 

You don't have to wait until MLK day to learn about Dr. King. Here are some popular books you can read all year long that will help kids learn about Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement. 

The Story of Martin Luther King Jr. 

Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

I Have A Dream Book

Henry's Freedom Box 

WATCH "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD" 

While "To Kill a Mockingbird" doesn't tell the history of Martin Luther King, it does give a good idea as to how much injustice there is to black people. This is a great book and film for older kids since there are some thematic elements. 

WRITE YOUR OWN DREAMS 

Use the free Martin Luther King printables worksheets below to write your own dreams! 

TALK ABOUT KINDNESS

It's always a good idea to talk about kindness, love, and equality. Have a family discussion about who or how you can be more kind and accepting to. 

MEMORIZE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. QUOTES 

Dr. King's inspiring words are worth memorizing. Here are 6 simple Martin Luther King quotes you can memorize! Grab the free printable PDFs at the end of the post. 

1. "The time is always right to do what is right."
2. "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
3. "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
4. "Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend."
5. "Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that."
6. "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"

FREE MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY PRINTABLES 

I've made it easy for you to celebrate Dr. King.

Get these free downloads in our Free Printable Library here. (You'll need a password. If you don't have access, click here to get instant access.)

Which Martin Luther King Jr ideas will you use this year? I'd love to hear how you plan to celebrate!