Things To Do MLK Day Weekend Events Manhattan NYC
Things To Do In Manhattan NYC Over The Martin Luther King Day Weekend
January 17, 2025 / Things To Do Manhattan / Manhattan Buzz NYC.
NYC Weather as of 1.17.2025. Sunrise 7.16 am. Sunset 4.56 pm. We're getting 25 more minutes of sunlight than we were the weekend of the Winter solstice in late December.
This weekend we could get 1/10th inch of rain concentrated between 1 and 4 pm Saturday or none at all. And on Sunday there's an 80% - 90% chance we'll get two or more inches of snow between 1 pm and 9 pm. Monday is cloudy, but no precipitation is expected.
The temperature highs will be in the mid 40's Friday, the low 40's Saturday, falling to the mid 30's on Sunday and then to the mid teens on Monday. The temperature lows will be in the low 30's on Friday and Saturday, falling to the high teens on Sunday and dropping to about 10 on Monday. Most of next week will range from the high single digits up to 30 by next Friday, so enjoy the weekend, as it will be followed by a cold week. The winds will be 5 - 12 mph all weekend, at the lower end on Friday and Saturday, and at the higher end on Sunday and Monday. The humidity will rise from between 50% - 60% Friday, up to between 70% to 80% on Sunday, and again dropping to 50% to 60% on Monday.
You can watch theater, visit the Manhattan art museums NYC, and eat out at one of the Manhattan restaurants NYC or go shopping in Manhattan NYC locales including Midtown, the Upper West & East Sides & the Village.
Brief History of Martin Luther King Holiday in NYC
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Baptist Minister who became the leading voice for African Americans' non-violent civil rights movement beginning in the mid 1950's through to his assassination in 1968. In 1983, the third Monday of every year was set aside to honor Martin Luther King for his service to the nation. The third Monday was chosen, as it was the nearest Monday to the anniversary of King's birthday, which was January 15, 1929.
Martin Luther King Day has grown to take on an even larger meaning, as it is oftentimes referred to as a day on, versus a day off. Organizations around the city and nation have used the day to call people into action to address the needs of the community through volunteering and service.
As Martin Luther King Day is a national holiday, it's worth keeping in mind that many / most federal offices will be closed, along with a number of businesses.
Martin Luther King Holiday Special Events in Manhattan NYC
√ Sunday, January 19, 2025 beginning at 2 pm - Apollo Uptown Hall - at the Apollo Theater at 253 West 125th Street in Harlem. In 2024 they described the event as follows, " ... The Apollo partners with WNYC in our [updated to 19th] annual celebration of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his enduring legacy on the culture ... [every year the] presentation focuses on a renewed commitment to understanding the context, confronting the complexity, and elevating our collective consciousness in the face of injustice and discrimination ...". Free but must rsvp at url below. They sold out last year. But in 2022, they told us that if the ticket holders don't show up / pick up their tickets by 2.30 pm the day of the show, they will be released to the public waiting in line at the theater. For details see - https://www.apollotheater.org
√ Monday, January 20, 2025 beginning at 3 pm - MLK Young Changemakers - at the Apollo Theater at 253 West 125th Street in Harlem. A chance to interact with up and coming civil rights leaders. Free but must rsvp at url below. For details see - https://www.apollotheater.org
√ Sunday, January 19, 2025 from 10 am to 11.30 am - MLK Day of Service - at the Abyssinian Baptist Church on Striver’s Row. The church is located at 132 Odell Clark Place [aka West 138th Street] between 138th & 139th Streets and Frederick Douglass & Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvds in West Harlem. The featured speaker is Reverend Al Sharpton. This West Harlem neighborhood includes places where African Americans like author W.E.B. DuBois and civil rights activist Malcolm X spent some time. Free, but rsvp. For details see - https://abyssinian.org
√ Sunday, January 19, 2025 from 11 am to 3 pm - MLK Sermon, Concert & Community Gathering - at Riverside Church at 490 Riverside Drive on the UWS of Manhattan. This annual MLK Commemoration starts with a sermon & talkback with Reverend Mark A. Thompson at 11 am, followed by coffee in the South Hall from 12.30 to 2 pm, and a concert for families from 1 to 3 pm. Folks will be seated on a first come first serve basis. The church has a real historical connection to Dr. King, as it is where, in 1967 Dr. King gave one of his most famous speeches, Beyond Vietnam. A Time to Break Silence. This is significantly changed from last year and it all looks to be free, but check for yourself. For details see - https://www.trcnyc.org.
√ Monday, January 20, 2025 at 10 am and from 1 to 5 pm - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - at the New York Society for Ethical Culture at 2 West 64th Street in Ceremonnial Hall [4th floor] on the UWS of Manhattan. A day of " ... dance, music, art, food, good deeds & community ...". Free and open to the public, but please rsvp - https://ethicalnyc.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F11961
√ Monday, January 20, 2025 from 10 am to about 2 pm - Manhattan Country School 37th Annual Commemorative MLK Day March. The eighth graders of the school organize a march every year. The march is entitled 'None of us are Free Until All of Us are Free'. The march route makes five stops at historically signficant sites, where students give 2 - 5 speeches at each stop. This year the march starts at: 1 ) Duke Ellington Circle (Central Park at the foot of Fifth Avenue and of 110th Street) 10:00-10:30, 2) March past the Gate of the Exonerated (110th Street between Malcolm X Boulevard and Fifth Avenue), 3) A. Philip Randolph Square (7th Ave, West 117th Street, St Nicholas Ave) 10:55-11:20, 4) Frederick Douglass Circle (Frederick Douglass Boulevard at West 110th Street) 11:45-12:10, and then 5) take train or bus to Manhattan Country School (150 West 85th St.) 12:45-2:00. For details see - https://www.manhattancountryschool.org
√ Monday, January 20, 2025 beginning at 1.30 pm - Harlem Gospel Choir performance at Sony Hall at 235 West 46th Street in Midtown Manhattan. The Harlem Gospel Choir was founded Allen Baily in 1986 after attending a MLK commemoration event at the Cotton Club in Harlem. They describe the choir and performance as follows, " ... The Choir presents the finest singers and musicians from Harlem’s Black Churches and the New York/Tri-State area ... The Harlem Gospel Choir’s songs of gospel and inspiration will touch the depths of your soul and lift your spirit to angelic heights, with sounds that are unfettered, joyous, and inspirational ...". The doors open at 12 noon and the show begins at 1.30 pm. Tickets run $38 - $54 at https://sonyhall.com. Things to do MLK weekend in Manhattan NYC.
√ CLOSED MLK SUNDAY & MONDAY BUT ... the Schomburg Center for African American Culture in the Lapidus Center at 515 Malcolm X Blvd and 135th Street in Harlem. The Schomberg Center is normally closed on Sunday and will be closed MLK Day. They describe Schomburg as follows, " ... Afro-Puerto Rican scholar Arturo Alfonso Schomburg (1874-1938), a writer, bibliophile, and historian dedicated to the collection and amplification of the artistic and academic work of people of African descent. Schomburg's seed collection to the Division of Negro Literature, History and Prints included more than 5,000 books; 3,000 manuscripts; 2,000 etchings and paintings; and several thousand pamphlets. Schomburg served as curator of ...". But it's worth mentioning that they have a lot of good programming related to race and civil rights which you can find at https://www.nypl.org/events/programs/schomburg
√ January 4 - 19, 2025 beginning at various times - JanArtsNYC - at the Joyce Theatre at 175 8th Avenue at 19th Street in Chelsea. A Winter Jazz Festival as well as dance, theater and music festivals abound at the Joyce in January. It's all part of the larger January Arts Festival - https://www.janartsnyc.org/ which runs through most of this month of January 2025. Also see - https://www.joyce.org
√ This weekend between January 18 - 20, 2025 - Make Your Own Day of Civic Action. There are multiple opportunities to help with food distribution through non-profit panties throughout many neighborhoods in Harlem and Manhattan. Here is one notable suggestion - https://www.foodpantries.org/address_geo.php
√ The Studio Museum of Harlem hosts a variety of cultural and art exhibits and programming related to African American culture. Their site at 144 West 125th Street, which they've occupied from 1982 - 2018, but which is still TEMPORARILY CLOSED while a new building is being constructed. They are currently operating out of Studio Museum 127 which is located at 429 West 127th Street in Harlem. The most recent estimate of when they expected to move back to their 125th Street site is the Fall of 2025 [in 2024 it was generally referenced as sometime in 2024 / they lost four plus years from their schedule provided prior to the pandemic]. For updates / details see - https://studiomuseum.org
All weekend there are jazz performances at the Birdland Theater at 315 44th Street in Midtown Manhattan. In 2024 tickets were $26 and $36 at https://birdlandjazz.com.
The Africa Center at 1280 5th Avenue at 109th Street in East Harlem doesn't appear to have any specific programs scheduled for the MLK Weekend. The museum is focused on African culture rather than on African American culture. For details see - https://www.theafricacenter.org.
- CLICK here for things to do Martin Luther King Day Weekend in Manhattan - MLK Day events Manhattan NYC.
Things To Do MLK Day Weekend Events In Manhattan NYC
Things To Do In Manhattan Over The Martin Luther King Day Weekend
January 17, 2025 / Things To Do Manhattan / Manhattan Buzz NYC. Continued.
Manhattan Historical Sites & Museums - MLK Weekend Things To Do Manhattan
Manhattan is home to innumerable historic and cultural sites. Some of the most notable historic sites include the the Dykman Farmhouse, the Morris-Jumel Mansion, the American Museum of Natural History, Mount Vernon Hotel, the Museum of the City of New York, the Jewish Museum, the Museo del Barrio, the Africa Center at 1280 5th Avenue at 109th Street, the Morgan Library, the Theodore Roosevelt House, and the Tenement Museum.
Martin Luther King Day Events In Manhattan - Skating & Train Show
Click here to obtain information about things to do Martin Luther King Day Weekend in Manhattan NYC, as well as throughout the month of January. This events calendar is updated monthly with about 100 different Manhattan fun / cultural events.
Skating in Bryant Park at 42nd Street between 5th & 6th Avenues returned the last weekend of October and will continue into March 2, 2024. The rink is open from 8 am - 10 pm and admission is free, but skates [eg $27 rental], lockers, helmets et al are charged on a per item basis.
The Rockefeller Center Skating Rink opened in October and they're open from 9 am to 12 midnight daily through the Winter. They charge $11 - $79 for admission and there's an $11 skating rental fee.
THIS REOPENED IN 2024 _ The Annual Holiday Train Show at Grand Central Station ends in early 2024 [no specific date given] at Grand Central Station at Park Avenue and 42nd Street. The train show is located near the northwest corner of the main floor and is open from 10 am - 7.30 pm weekdays and from 10 am - 6 pm weekends [FREE].
Art Exhibits In Manhattan NYC - MLK Day Weekend Things To Do
Click here to view some of the in-progress art exhibits in Manhattan this Martin Luther King Day weekend. There are too many museums to showcase in this short space, but here are a few that are clustered along the Upper East and Upper West Sides.
Along the Upper East Side NYC, the Museum of the City of New York, the Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Jewish Museum, the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum the Neue Gallerie, El Museo del Barrio, the Africa Center and The Frick Collection are all located along Fifth Avenue between 70th Street and 96th Street.
Along the Upper West Side there's the New York Historical Society, the American Museum of Natural History and the Planetarium - all of which are located along Central Park West between 75th and 85th Streets.
In Midtown there's the Museum of Modern Art and the Paley Center for Media [closed Mondays & Tuesdays].
In the photo to your right is one of the sculpture galleries in the Frick Museum at 70th Street and Fifth Avenue along Central Park East.
Dance, Theater & Music In Manhattan NYC - Martin Luther King Day Weekend Things To Do
Click here to view the Theatre section of the Manhattan Events Calendar to see what's doing this Martin Luther King Day weekend theater in Manhattan NYC.
Just north of Columbus Circle, Lincoln Center is the home of many wonderful musical and dance performances.
At the north end of the Upper West Side is Columbia University which largely operates in its own world, but has many cultural events going and sometimes they are made available to the public.
Carnegie Hall is located on 57th Street and home to many classical musical performances. The Theatre District center is at 42nd Street and Broadway, where you can fan out in directions north and then east or west and find many theaters that almost always have a production going.
And further downtown in Midtown south, Chelsea and the Village there are many smaller, more boutique, modern musical and theatrical venues. You need only browse along and off of the main streets to find something interesting. We also include many of them in our Things to do This Weekend Calendar on the top tool bar.
An example of an interesting venue is shown in the photo to your right, where the Neville Dance Theatre Company is performing at the Alvin Ailey Dance Studios in west Midtown NYC.
The Irish Arts Center, a performing arts institution with a focus on Irish culture, is located nearby at 553 West 51st Street.
Martin Luther King Day Weekend Shopping In Manhattan NYC
This is a great weekend to do a bit of shopping. Click here to view our shopping sections of the following neighborhoods: Upper East Side NYC Shopping, Midtown Shopping and coming soon - shopping in the Village NYC & Upper West Side NYC Shopping.
Each of these shopping sections includes, or will include, links to home pages, which have slide shows of merchandise as well as maps, store hours, phone numbers and telephone numbers.
The Winter Antiques Show at the Park Avenue Armory is generally in town around the time of, or shortly following, the Martin Luther King Day Weekend. This year they it runs from January 19 - 28, 2024.
In the photo at right is an historical item for sale at the Winter Antiques Show at the Park Avenue Armory on the Upper East Side in years past.
Dining In Manhattan NYC - Martin Luther King Day Weekend Things To Do
Food in Manhattan has always been good. The variety of restaurant choicesis difficult to match anywhere, and if you look carefully, you can find good food at reasonable prices too.
Click here to view the Manhattan Restaurants NYC section of the site, which includes reviews of the restaurants we've selected to review. As of this writing, we've identified some of our old favorites, but haven't done the deep dive yet.
We also provide an update of the Martin Luther King Day Weekend things to do on the front page of this site on the Friday leading into the three day holiday weekend.
Golfing In Manhattan over the MLK Day Weekend
Manhattan has a golf driving range at Chelsea Pier in the 20's on the west side along the Hudson River.
MLK Day Things To Do Brooklyn / Queens / Staten Island / Bronx
And if you feel the urge to visit another borough, here's a list of:
Things to do this weekend in Manhattan NYC
Here's a page of all kinds of things to do over the weekend in Manhattan.
Martin Luther King Day Weekend - MLK Day in Manhattan NYC - Links
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