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Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Northeast Ohio: Rock Hall, Science Center and more offering free admission

3News has compiled a list of events happening in Cuyahoga, Summit and Portage Counties for MLK Day.

CLEVELAND — Here is a list of the various events taking place across Northeast Ohio in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Many museums are offering free admission in Northeast Ohio. 

3News will continue to update this list as more events are announced. 

Cuyahoga County 

Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Concert

  • Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, at 7 p.m. 
  • Severance Music Center, Mandel Concert Hall 
  • Free admission, first-come, first-served tickets available beginning on Saturday, Jan. 7, at 10 a.m. through the Severance Ticket Office in person, by phone at 216-231-1111 or 800-686-1141, or online at clevelandorchestra.com.

Marin Luther King Jr. Memorial Concert: An Annual Cleveland Tradition

  • Sunday, Jan. 15 at 3 p.m.
  • BOP STOP in Ohio City: 2920 Detroit Avenue.
  • Tickets are free, but reservations must be made HERE.

"The program will include a variety of sacred and secular songs of hope and faith, featuring music by African American composers. Vocal and instrumental performers will include our faculty, merit scholarship students and even two of our board members!"

Tri-C's Dr. King Day Celebration 

  • Monday, Jan. 16, 3-4 p.m. 
  • Cuyahoga County Community College

"The remembrance will feature a musical performance by Grammy Award-winning Pastor Marvin L. Winans, along with student performances by the Contemporary Youth Orchestra (CYO), in residence at Tri-C and more."

The event can be viewed online HERE.

Cleveland History Center 

  • Monday, Jan. 16, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
  • Free admission 

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the Cleveland Museum of Art 

  • Monday, Jan. 16, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
  • Free admission 

"Come together at the Cleveland Museum of Art for a free daylong celebration honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Explore the theme “It Starts with Me: Cultivating a Beloved Community Mindset to Transform Unjust Systems” through storytelling, art making, and reflective writing prompts."

Great Lakes Science Center 

  • Monday, Jan. 16, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
  • Free admission, movies in the Cleveland Clinic DOME Theater will be discounted and parking is discounted for $9 per vehicle. 

"The Science Center will have special programming throughout the day including live science shows such as Bubblemania and Seeing Sound, hands-on science cart activities where guests can learn about string resonance and invisibility, and more."

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 

  • Jan. 16, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
  • Free admission

"Join the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Monday, January 16th in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy. Become inspired to find your voice and do your part to contribute to a more equitable world, just as artists have done throughout history through their music."

Discovery Day Fun and Health-Focused Information at Cleveland Museum of Natural History

  • Jan. 16, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Panel discussion at noon 
  • Free admission  

Hear our voices: Annual MLK Day Celebration 

  • Monday, Jan. 16, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
  • Maltz Museum in Beachwood
  • Free admission, register to attend keynote talks HERE

The Rink at Wade Oval 

  • Monday, Jan. 16, noon to 5 p.m. 
  • Free skating admission, $3 skate rentals for adults and $2 skate rentals for students

Cleveland Clergy Coalition MLK Jr. Day Celebration 

  • Monday, Jan. 16, 2 p.m. 
  • Mount Sinai Friendship United, 7510 Woodland Avenue, Cleveland 

2023 MLK Convocation 

  • Friday, Jan. 29, 12:45 p.m. 
  • Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation Ballroom in the Tinkham Veale University Center at Case Western Reserve University
  • Free admission, registration is required HERE 
  • Author Nic Stone will headline the event

Lorain County

Elyria commemorative march

The march begins at 10:30 a.m. at Elyria City Hall and ends at the Elyria Performing Arts Center. The march will be followed by a program at 11 a.m. featuring a short presentation and the kickoff of the city's comprehensive plan known as "Our Elyria."

Portage County 

Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration featuring speaker Bernice A. King 

Summit County 

Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, legacy, and message of hope

  • Friday, Jan. 13, noon
  • Jean Hower Taber Student Union at the University of Akron 

"The University of Akron will host Dr. Kito D. March, Sr., Pastor, Second Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio, as he delivers 'Remaining focused at critical times' in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, legacy, and message of hope."

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day 2023  

  • Sunday, Jan. 15, 4 p.m. 
  • First Congregational Church of Akron, 292 East Market Street 

Akron Art Museum celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. 

  • Monday, Jan. 16, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • Free admission 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the Akron Zoo 

  • Monday, Jan. 16

  • Free admission 

"Visit the zoo and celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Stop by Komodo Kingdom to enjoy crafts and activities provided by NAACP."

Justice for Jayland Symposium

  • Saturday, Jan. 14, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 
  • Goodyear Theater, 1201 East Market Street, Akron  
  • Free admission

Youth Day of Doing in Akron

  • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
  • Selected sites throughout Akron, including Joy Park and Mount Zion Baptist Church.

In addition to community service projects, youths will discuss the future of Akron.

Try the Y Day

All Akron-area YMCA branches -- including Akron, Barberton, Cuyahoga Falls, Green and Wadsworth -- are hosting a free "Try the Y" Day on Monday, Jan. 16.

"Adults are invited to join in group exercise classes, use the fitness equipment, walk on the track, meet the staff and just get the lay of the land all day," organizers said. "Special children's activities will be conducted from 12-2 p.m. only with a parent or guardian needing to be present."

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