MLK Weekend: 17+ Memorable Things To Do in Atlanta (2025)

Looking for things to do over the MLK Weekend in Atlanta? We have some suggestions for you.

From celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., to enjoying some time with your family  — either in town or on a quick weekend getaway — we’ve got lots of ideas to make this national holiday meaningful for you.

Martin Luther King Day, also known as Civil Rights Day in some states, is held on the third Monday of January around his birthday (which is January 15) every year.  In 2025, Martin Luther King Day will be observed on Monday, January 20.  It’s a United States federal holiday, so start planning now.

Below are some suggestions on things to do on MLK Day in Atlanta, Georgia, and ways to celebrate one of the most iconic American Civil Rights leaders.  We also added some additional options for an MLK Jr. Day of Service, and a few getaways (my favorites are the MLK ski weekend getaways) if you don’t mind traveling a bit.

VISIT THE MLK HISTORIC SITE

Note: The birth home of Martin Luther King, Jr. is temporarily closed for repairs. All other buildings at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park remain open during regular park operating hours.

The Martin Luther King Historic Site is part of the National Park Service. Kids can pick up a Junior Ranger booklet at the front desk to help guide them through the museum.

The Martin Luther King Historic Site includes…

• Visitor Center
• BEHOLD Monument
• “I Have A Dream” World Peace Rose Garden
• Birth Home
• Fire Station No. 6
• Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church
• The King Center, Dr. & Mrs. King’s Tomb, and Freedom Hall

If you want to visit the King Center or MLK Birth Home (closed temporarily), get there early. Tickets to see Dr. King’s home are free, but on a first come, first served basis and MLK weekend is sure to be very busy for both places.

Don’t miss Ebenezer Baptist Church. You can take a self-guided tour of the church, or visit on Sunday for services. And plan to spend some time just walking the streets of MLK’s beloved community.

EAT AROUND THE WORLD

Near the MLK Jr. National Historic Site is the Municipal Market in Sweet Auburn (Curb Market), the oldest public market in Atlanta. It is in the historic neighborhood, Sweet Auburn, where Martin Luther King Jr. grew up.

At this chic, throw-back market, you’ll find vendors selling local Southern cuisine like the delicious eats at Metro Deli Soul Food or Auntie Vee’s Kitchen.  In addition to the amazing eateries, you’ll also find plenty of produce, meat, and seafood vendors here.

The market is usually open Monday – Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but it is closed on the actual MLK Day holiday.

MLK JR. DAY OF SERVICE

“Everybody can be great because anybody can serve,” was a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebrate the holiday by volunteering!

Several organizations are celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day with events for the MLK Day of Service including Hands On Atlanta — which will be hosting a series of events throughout January.

The Decatur Service Project is another great organization that organizes volunteers to help City of Decatur residents/senior homeowners with house maintenance and repair.  Their MLK Service Project in 2025 will be January 18-20, 2025.

Want more MLK Day of Service events?  You can find more HERE.

LEARN AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AT OAKLAND CEMETERY

Oakland Cemetery is one of the best places to learn about history in Atlanta.

Take a 75-minute walking tour and learn about the men and women who shaped Atlanta and the African American experience in Atlanta.  The tour explores the lives and accomplishments of outstanding and ordinary African Americans who fought to overcome the effects of slavery and discrimination to help shape the history of Atlanta.

In the past, the free tours started outside of the Oakland Bell Tower (at the Visitors Center and Museum Store) at 1:00 PM. Please arrive a few minutes early to check in with the volunteer at the front desk.  Check their Events Calendar for date and time updates.

SPEND MLK WEEKEND AT THE CENTER FOR CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS

The Center for Civil and Human Rights is the best Civil Rights museum of its kind. See how long can you sit at the lunch counter with people jeering in your ear, or stand on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel.

MLK Weekend is a perfect time to visit this museum. You’ll leave understanding why it is so important to dedicate a day to understand the Civil Rights struggle in this country, as well as understanding the importance of basic human rights everywhere.

Open on MLK Weekend, including Monday, January 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER

The Atlanta History Center invites you to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his hometown of Atlanta. Guests will have the opportunity to participate in civil rights-themed trivia, crafts, kids activities, panel discussions, and more. A detailed schedule of activities will be emailed to registrants closer to the date.

The event will be held Saturday, January 18, 2025, from 10am to 4pm. Tickets to Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2025 are free, but registration is encouraged to expedite check-in.

TAKE YOUR YOUNG CHILD (10 AND UNDER) TO THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF ATLANTA

Join Children’s Museum of Atlanta, in collaboration with the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, as they celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. They will explore his life and legacy with fun activities and more. The events will be held Saturday, January 18, 2025 – Monday, January 20, 2025.

During this special weekend, you can take part in a MLK Birthday Parade and Dance Party and join Markell Williams at the Stage for a special story time of MLK’s famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.

FREE ACCESS TO NATIONAL PARKS

One of the ways the country is celebrating MLK Day on Monday, January, 20, is by offering free access to National Parks that otherwise charge a fee.

In Georgia, that includes Kennesaw Mountain in the Metro, Fort Pulaski in Savannah, and Point Park at Lookout Mountain Battlefield near Chattanooga.

MARTIN LUTHER KING PARADES IN GEORGIA

If you are looking for free things to do on Martin Luther King Day, a parade is a great answer. Here are a few around the state of Georgia.

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Lawrenceville. The United Ebony Society of Gwinnett County, Inc. will host the their Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration on Monday, January 20, 2025, in Lawrenceville, GA.  The parade will begin Gwinnett Justice Center at Noon. You’ll find food, vendors, and entertainment at the celebration afterwards at Central Gwinnett High School from 3-5pm.

• Martin Luther King Parade in Dublin. Celebrate history as Dublin, GA, commemorates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 28th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 11am in Downtown Dublin. Historically, with over 175 floats, Dublin’s Martin Luther King Jr. Parade has been the second largest in Georgia!

• Savannah MLK Parade. Savannah’s 45th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade will be held January 20, 2025 at 10am. Check out the parade route here.

MLK DAY WEEKEND GETAWAYS

• Visit Birmingham, AL. The summer of 1963 was a pivotal time in the Civil Rights Movement, and Birmingham, AL was the center of the struggle. Learn what happened that summer with a MLK Day weekend visit to Birmingham.

• Visit with the Gullah Geechee of St. Simons: The Gullah Geechee are descendants of the slaves who worked the cotton and rice plantations on the Georgia coast. Visit the St. Simons African American Heritage Center at the Harrington School, or take an African American Heritage tour of the island to celebrate Martin Luther King weekend.

• Visit the Tubman Museum. Opened in 1981, and named after Harriet Tubman, the Tubman Museum in Macon is the largest museum in the southeast dedicated to African American art and history.  The museum is centrally located on Cherry Street in downtown Macon, and I think it has one of the coolest pieces of art: a 55-foot long mural that travels through time, showing the feats of African Americans. (And if you haven’t seen the movie, Harriet, add that to your weekend plans too! It’s fantastic!)

• Learn about the real history of Savannah. To get a true picture of the history of Savannah, you must understand the part slavery, and African Americans in general, played in the city’s past, as well as the bravery and unbreakable spirit of the Gullah Geechee people. They are the descendants of the African slaves brought to the U.S. from Sierra Leone in Western Africa to work the rice and grain farms on the barrier islands of Georgia and South Carolina.

• MLK at Disney World. If you are looking for MLK weekend vacation deals, January is normally a slower month at Walt Disney World . Although, the Martin Luther King weekend at Disney World tends to be a bit more crowded than the rest of the month. Note: slower times of the year are when Disney shortens hours and closes rides for refurbishment, so be sure to research the park you would like to visit to ensure you can experience your favorite attractions.

• Civil Rights Road Trip. Consider a Civil Rights road trip to really immerse yourself and your kids in learning as much as possible about bigotry, discrimination, slavery, and the struggle for civil rights.  The official Civil Rights Trail covers 15 states and Washington, DC, but you can plan your road trip to cover just a part of it — starting in Atlanta.

MLK SKI WEEKEND GETAWAYS

MLK Weekend is a popular time to hit the slopes at Beech Mountain or any of the other North Carolina ski resorts. If you aren’t a skier, you may want to head north to do some snow tubing and just playing in the snow.

MORE INFORMATION FOR YOUR TRIP TO GEORGIA

• YOUR GEORGIA VACATION
• VOLUNTEER: 13+ Great Places To Volunteer in Atlanta for Kids and Their Families
• ATLANTA: 53+ Things To Do in Atlanta You Should Not Miss (From Locals in the Know)
• FREE ATLANTA: 50+ Free Things To Do in Atlanta (That Don’t Suck)
• WINTER: Atlanta Winter: 51+ Epic Things To Do in Winter With Kids They’ll Love

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