Martin Luther King Day events around Chicago

There's a plethora of events in Chicagoland honoring Martin Luther King's birthday - from story telling to symphonies to simple crafts and hands-on learning. Check the list below. Monday is definitely not a day to stay at home.

What Does It Mean, Dr. King?

Chicago Children's Museum | Chicago
January 21, 11 a.m., 1, 2 and 3 p.m.

What was the Civil Rights Movement and what does it mean for kids today? Take a journey back in time and learn about freedom through interactive theater and songs.

Black Creativity Family Day

Museum of Science and Industry | Chicago
January 21, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Celebrate African Americans in Innovation by meeting real working scientists in the Jr. Science Cafes (10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.), inventing in the Museum's Wanger Family Fab Lab, using vinyl cutters, laser cutters and 3D printers, learning at the Science Activity Stations with hands-on experiences, and interacting with teens in MSI's Science Achievers program as they showcase science and engineering projects they developed.

Martin Luther King Day Service Program

DuPage County Historical Museum | Wheaton
January 21, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Students can commemorate Dr. King's legacy with a day of service and remembrance. Fees from this program help purchase supplies for the People's Resource Center and food pantry in Wheaton.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. CelebrationFREE

Brookfield Zoo | Brookfield
January 21, Noon

Guests enjoy a showing of Dr. King's iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. Zoogoers are also invited to reflect on and share their dreams by creating a Tibetan prayer flag, which is traditionally used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom.

Hip-Hop Aesop III: Jazzed, Bopped and Beat-Boxed

eta Creative Arts Foundation | Chicago
October 29 - August 2 (Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday)

Students will be introduced to Blues concepts along with other contemporary music. Playwright J. e Franklin reconstructs timeless fables about morals and values that stimulate critical thinking in a setting filled with music, fun, and laughter.

Free day at the Museum of Science and IndustryFREE

Museum of Science and Industry | Chicago
January 7 - January 27 (Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday)

Enjoy free admission to the museum all week. Before you head on your way, check out our list of must-see exhibits for both kids and parents.

Bud, Not Buddy

Chicago Children’s Theatre | Chicago
January 12 - February 24

Bud, Not Buddy follows the journey of a young African-American orphan as he searches for his father. Clues kept in a suitcase lead him to adventures in Depression-era Michigan, where he finds community among a group of jazz musicians and, ultimately, an unexpected sense of home.

Families can meet Christopher Paul Curtis, author of Bud, Not Buddy, one of the most prolific African American writers of contemporary children's literature today. The free event includes a Q&A with Curtis introduced by Chicago Children's Theatre Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell, co-moderated by Talia Garg (12) and Olivia Garg (10). Curtis will meet fans and sign books after the discussion.

Annual Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King

Chicago Sinfonietta | River Forest
January 20 - January 21

Performances are 3 p.m. Jan. 20 at Wentz Concert Hall of North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Avenue, Naperville and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21 at Orchestra Hall of Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Chicago Sinfonietta at 312-236-3681 ext. 2 or online at www.chicagosinfonietta.org.