BROOKLYN — For Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year, don’t waste your long weekend — or your kids’.
Plenty of neighborhood groups and institutions in central Brooklyn are hosting MLK Day events, most of them free, including art classes, storytelling, restoration projects and, of course, multiple talks and discussions of the civil rights leader’s legacy.
From Clinton Hill to Flatbush, DNAinfo New York rounded up the best events in the area for the holiday this year. Check out the list below:
Saturday, Jan. 16
Where: Zion Baptist Church, 523 Washington Ave., Clinton Hill
When: 11 a.m.
Local youth showcase their talents through science, poetry, essays, song, dance and more at Zion Baptist Church. The free event also features a spelling bee. The church will present several academic scholarships and achievement awards to community members on Monday.
► Creative Art Workshop: I Have a Dream
Where: Central Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Heights
When: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Kids and families are invited to create a work of art in celebration of Dr. King’s dream, hosted by artist Angeli Rasbury at the main branch of the Brooklyn Public Library.
► 15th Annual Martin Luther King Concert and Celebration
Where: Brooklyn Music School, 126 St. Felix St., Fort Greene
When: 5 to 7 p.m.
Brooklyn Music School’s 15th annual MLK Concert will feature a variety of musical and dance styles that celebrate the legacy of Dr. King, like gospel, hip hop, jazz and Afro-Cuban. Performers will include the Arts Reaching Youth Choir, the Choir on Fire, the BMS rock and jazz bands, and a djembe drum set by the World Percussion Center of New York. This year’s concert honoree will be Shawn Dove, the CEP of Campaign for Black Achievement. Tickets are $5 with a “pay what you can” option at the door.
Sunday, Jan. 17
► 500 Men Making a Difference’s 6th Annual 72-Hour Martin Luther King Renovation Project
Where: Concord Baptist Clothing Exchange, 831 Marcy Ave., Bedford-Stuyvesant
When: 8 a.m.
Help local group 500 Men Making a Difference touch up the Concord Baptist Clothing Exchange with renovations. The improvements are set to include painting and cleaning and will continue through Monday. The Bed-Stuy non-profit hosts an MLK volunteer event each year. In 2015, they worked to restore the Magnolia Tree Earth Center.
MLK Day Address by Congressman Hakeem Jeffries
Where: First Baptist Church of Crown Heights, 450 Eastern Parkway, Crown Heights
When: 10:30 a.m.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries is scheduled to talk at the Sunday morning service at the First Baptist Church of Crown Heights, touching on the life and legacy of Dr. King.
► Panel Discussion: MLK Jr. and Social Justice
Where: Central Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Heights
When: 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Panelists moderated by Young Movement Inc. policy director Michael Partis will discuss Dr. King’s social and Christian philosophies and how they connect to today’s social and activist movements.
Monday, Jan. 18
► 30th Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at BAM
Where: Peter Jay Sharp Building and BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, 33 Lafayette Ave., Fort Greene
When: 10:30 a.m.
This free, all-day event features a keynote address from professor, author and radio host Michael Eric Dyson, celebrating the life of Dr. King. The Brooklyn Interdenominational Choir and The Voice contestant Kimberly Nichole are also set to perform and visitors can check out the exhibit “Picture the Dream” and documentary “The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution” at 1 p.m. Tickets are first-come, first-serve beginning at 8 a.m.
► Peace and Purpose Ceramics Workshop
Where: Expression in Ceramics, 1151 Nostrand Ave., Prospect-Lefferts Gardens
When: 12 p.m. or 2 p.m.
Join neighborhood group Creating Legacies at one of two free ceramics workshops for kids that will include face painting and story time where little ones will learn about Dr. King while engaging in “literacy through the arts,” the group said. The event is free but requires an RSVP to nycreatinglegacies@gmail.com.
► Million Youth March in Crown Heights
Where: M.S. 61, 400 Empire Boulevard, Crown Heights
When: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Enjoy arts and crafts, sign-making, healthy snacks from Seeds in the Middle, yoga and health screenings before the “Million Youth March for Freedom” at 12 p.m., leaving from M.S. 61. Sign up to participate on the group’s Facebook page.
► The 31st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Family Celebration
Where: Prospect Heights High School Campus, 883 Classon Ave., Prospect Heights
When: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Join the Central Brooklyn Martin Luther King Commission in celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. King. Students participating in this year’s essay, poetry and arts contests will receive awards; special guests include actor and director Geoffrey Owens from “The Cosby Show” and the Ifetayo Youth Ensemble. Families will be eligible for a free raffle gift, and each child attending will receive a free educational gift.
► MLK Jr. Day Storytelling and Music
Where: Grace Reformed Church, 1800 Bedford Ave., Prospect-Lefferts Gardens
When: 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Students from Medgar Evers College and LIU Brooklyn will perform dance, acapella, storytelling, poetry and more at this sixth annual MLK Jr. Day event hosted by the Prospect-Lefferts Gardens Neighborhood Association.
► A Community Celebration at St. Mary's
Where: St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 230 Classon Ave., Clinton Hill
When: 4 p.m.
St. Mary’s Church hosts this annual celebration, where elected officials and Brooklyn community members will read speeches, writings, and sermons from Dr. King. The festivities feature songs and music, along with a meet-and-greet with artists and local leaders. Tickets are available for a donation of $15, $10 for seniors and students.
► A Shared Dream: A Tribute in Word and Song
Where: Brooklyn College, Walt Whitman Theater, 2900 Campus Road, Flatbush
When: Doors open 5 p.m., program begins 6 p.m.
This performance honors the life and legacy of Dr. King, sponsored by State Sen. Kevin Parker.
