This year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be on Monday, January 19th, 2025, and there is so much going on to celebrate and honor the civil rights icon!
What is Martin Luther King Jr.’s connection to Atlanta?
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, at 501 Auburn Avenue, right here in Atlanta. For the next twelve years, he lived there with his grandparents, parents, siblings, and other family members. The home is located in the residential section of “Sweet Auburn”, the center of Black Atlanta.
The Civil Rights leader should be honored all year long of course, but we especially want to celebrate him on his nationally celebrated birthday! There are tons of beautiful things happening around Atlanta this year to celebrate, and we’ve curated a list for you!
Check out The King Center’s ‘King Holiday Observance’
One of the best spots in Atlanta to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is at the King Center, which hosts a ‘King Holiday Observance’ every January. This year’s theme: Mission Possible 2: Building community, uniting a nation the nonviolent way.
All throughout the holiday, The King Center will host events like teach-ins, community summits, children’s book readings, film screenings and more.
The King Center will also host the Martin Luther King Jr. Beloved Community Commemorative Service at King’s own church, Ebenezer Baptist Church. It will also be streamed on multiple platforms.
You can learn all about what’s going on at the King Center this holiday on their website, here!
Visit the childhood home of Martin Luther King Jr.
One of the coolest and most uniquely Atlanta ways to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. and honor his legacy is by visiting his childhood home in town. After a rehabilitation project for the last several years, King’s childhood home is back open to the public and hosting tours.
You can learn more and book your tour on their website, here!Be ‘Hands On’ at these volunteering opportunities in A-Town
Another wonderful way to honor Dr. King’s legacy is by volunteering in our community.
During MLK Days of Service, January 12–19, Hands On Atlanta is hosting tons of volunteering events for people to get out and make our city a better place! With everything from food distribution to park beautification and beyond, there’s something everyone can do to help out. See the full list of volunteer opportunities here.
Honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Atlanta History Center
FREE
This year, The Atlanta History Center is hosting ‘I Influence the Dream‘ in collaboration with Atlanta Influences Everything. This family-friendly day of education invites visitors to trace the arc of Atlanta’s role in the Civil Rights Movement over the course of generations through exhibits, talks with experts, and interactive experiences and more.
Tickets are free with an RSVP, which you can do here!Give back with the MLK Day 5K Freedom Run
Looking to kick off the New Year with a charitable fitness boost? The incredible 5K Freedom Run celebrates MLK Day by working with Atlanta area schools, churches, community organizations and businesses to use the race as a fundraiser for their community-oriented initiatives. This 5K walk/run will take place entirely on New Peachtree Road on January 19th, 2026.
Learn more on their website, here.Visit Dr. and Mrs. Kings’ final resting places in Atlanta
The tomb of Martin Luther Jr. and Coretta Scott King is located across Auburn Avenue from the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park Visitor Center on the grounds of the King Center. You can pay your respects on any visit, but it might feel particularly special on King’s birthday.
Learn more on The King Center’s website, here.Bring your kiddos to the Children’s Museum of Atlanta’s MLK Jr. Day Programming
Celebrate MLK Day all weekend long at the Children’s Museum of Atlanta! At the Children’s museum, your kiddos will get to learn about Martin Luther King Jr., his message of hope and acceptance, and more through hands-on activities like:
- Morph Gallery: Timeline of Dr. King’s Life – the ever-changing Morph Gallery will be laid out as a timeline through Dr. King’s life, with 39 steps (footprints) through the area to symbolize his 39 years of life with fun activities.
- watercolor portraits & quotes
- helping build a bridge
- MLK Birthday Parade & Dance Party
- Thank you cards for community helpers
- Storytime: ‘I Have a Dream’ with local actor, Markell Williams
Head to the 2026 Clayton County MLK Day Parade & Celebration
On Monday, January 19, head to Clayton County for a special, free, family-friendly day of unity, service, and reflection in College Park.
The celebration begins with a lively parade from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., running from Phoenix Blvd. to West Fayetteville Rd, followed by a post-parade celebration at the Tracey Wyatt Recreation Center.
The celebration will include live performances on the lawn, community speakers, a vendor fair, kids’ zone, and more that highlight Dr. King’s enduring message of equality and justice.
You can learn all about this amazing event on College Park Recreation & Cultural Arts’ website, here.Visit Sandy Springs for their annual MLK Life and Legacy Family Experience
There’s a whole day of family-friendly events planned in Sandy Springs for MLK Day. Guests can expect several educational activity stations and a screening of Emmy Award-nominated film, Our Friend, Martin. The event is free for all.
For more information, check out Sandy Springs’ website!
Support Black-owned restaurants this MLK Jr. Day!
Atlanta has a thriving Black-owned restaurant scene, and we love supporting them all year round! And for MLK Jr. Day weekend especially, we’re so happy to support Black-owned businesses and restaurants!
And of course, support Black businesses and organizations allll year round!
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Atlanta! Celebrate all the advancements we’ve made for civil rights, and pledge to continue the fight!