Friday, January 17, 2025
Happy birthday, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.! Monday, January 20, 2025, is the formal observance of the birthday of Dr. King. The Milwaukee community, along with Milwaukee Public Schools students and teachers, will observe Dr. King’s birthday and learn about his life, work, and impact throughout the week. The late civil rights leader would have been 96 years old this year.
In observance of the federal holiday and Dr. King’s legacy, MPS schools and offices are closed on Monday. Students and families are encouraged to observe this important holiday by participating in celebrations and services, reading books or watching videos about Dr. King’s life and legacy, listening to one of Dr. King's speeches, or discussing the Civil Rights Movement. Since 1994, King Day has been designated a National Day of Service, when Americans volunteer and contribute to their communities in honor of Dr. King’s life of service.
Milwaukee will host its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration, sponsored by the Marcus Performing Arts Center, on Monday, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. This year marks the 41st annual birthday event in Milwaukee, which is one of only two cities that have celebrated the holiday annually since 1984. Student winners of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Speech and Essay Contests will deliver their speeches and read their essays during the celebration. Artwork by winners in the Dr. King Art Contest will be featured. Admission is free. For more information and to see the list of contest winners, visit the Marcus Performing Arts Center web page.
More family resources are available at The King Center, The Nobel Prize, and National Geographic Kids.
The Marcus Performing Arts Center is located at 929 N. Water Street, Milwaukee, 53202.
We hope you join the celebration. Thank you, Dr. King!