There are a number of family friendly events in Ann Arbor for Martin Luther King Jr Day and Black History Month in February. At this point we have just started to add them for 2026. Be sure to check back frequently for updates and additional events.
Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr Day in Ann Arbor
Each year the UM MLK Children & Youth Day is typically one of the most popular events to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr Day. I have heard great things about the program. If you want to drive, The Henry Ford (Dearborn) has free programs with free admission.
The African American Cultural and Historical Museum of Washtenaw County will be open from noon-4p on MLK Day, Monday, January 19. They will be closed on Sunday, January 18.
MLK Day is designated as a National Day of Service.
Note: Events listed range from those suitable for all ages to events for teens and adults. Make sure to check if the event is age-appropriate for your children.
Check out all of the programs honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and day of service activities:
| Date/Time | Event | |
|---|---|---|
| 💙🆓🎟 | January 19 8:00am-3:00pm | UM MLK Children & Youth Day at U of M School of Education, Ann Arbor Michigan |
| 💙🆓🎟 | January 19 9:30am-5:00pm | Martin Luther King Jr Day - Free Admission at Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn Michigan |
| 💙 | January 19 10:00am-11:30am | MLK Day Family Swim at Goldfish Swim School, Ann Arbor Michigan |
| 💙🆓 | January 19 11:00am-3:00pm | MLK Day – Free Family Drop-In at Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor Michigan |
| 💙🆓 | January 19 2:00pm-4:00pm | MLK Day Service Project at Ypsilanti District Library – Michigan Ave Branch, Ypsilanti Michigan |
| 💙🆓 | January 19 6:00pm-7:30pm | Martin Luther King Jr. and Militarism Today at Downtown Branch of AADL, Ann Arbor Michigan |
Other Events on Martin Luther King Jr Day
Typically Ann Arbor Hands on Museum is closed on Mondays. However, they are typically open (10a-5p) on MLK Day. As of January 6, we don’t see an announcement about their hours for MLK Day 2026.
With schools and some employers closed, there are also other events scheduled for Martin Luther King Jr Day.
| Date/Time | Event | |
|---|---|---|
| 💙🆓 | January 19 10:00am-10:30am | A2SO KinderConcert at Ypsilanti District Library – Whittaker Rd, Ypsilanti Michigan |
| 💙🎟 | January 19 10:00am-7:00pm | MLK Special at Launch Trampoline Park at Launch Trampoline, Ann Arbor Michigan |
| 🆓 | January 19 10:30am-11:30am | Baby Playgroup at Malletts Creek Branch Library, Ann Arbor Michigan |
| 🆓 | January 19 10:30am-11:30am | Jumpstart Storytime at Ypsilanti District Library – Whittaker Rd, Ypsilanti Michigan |
| 🆓 | January 19 10:30am-11:30am | Little Ones Storytime at Ypsilanti District Library – Michigan Ave Branch, Ypsilanti Michigan |
| 🆓 | January 19 10:30am-11:00am | Preschool Storytimes at Pittsfield Branch Library, Ann Arbor Michigan |
| 💙🆓 | January 19 11:00am-11:30am | A2SO KinderConcert at Ypsilanti District Library – Whittaker Rd, Ypsilanti Michigan |
| 🆓 | January 19 11:00am-11:30am | Drop-In Story Time at Dexter District Library, Dexter Michigan |
| 💙🆓 | January 19 12:00pm-1:30pm | Dinoland Dance Party at Dinoland Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor Michigan |
| 💙🆓 | January 19 12:00pm-1:00pm | Marble Run Race at Westgate Branch of AADL, Ann Arbor Michigan |
| 💙🆓 | January 19 12:00pm-1:00pm | Perler Bead Party at Westgate Branch of AADL, Ann Arbor Michigan |
| 💙🎟 | January 19 12:00pm-4:00pm | Soul Synthesis: Nonstop Show WORKSHOP at Neutral Zone, Ann Arbor Michigan |
| 🆓 | January 19 1:00pm-2:00pm | Jumpstart Storytime at Ypsilanti District Library – Whittaker Rd, Ypsilanti Michigan |
January 19 1:00pm-2:30pm | Open Skate at Veterans Ice Arena, Ann Arbor MI | |
| 💙🆓🎟 | January 19 1:00pm-2:00pm | Yarn Painting at Dexter District Library, Dexter Michigan |
| 💙🆓 | January 19 1:00pm-1:45pm | Young Scientists! at Pittsfield Branch Library, Ann Arbor Michigan |
| 💙🆓🎟 | January 19 1:30pm-3:00pm | Teen/Tween Crochet Crafternoon at Dexter District Library, Dexter Michigan |
| 🆓🎟 | January 19 3:00pm-4:00pm | Beat Production at Neutral Zone, Ann Arbor Michigan |
| 🆓🎟 | January 19 4:00pm-6:00pm | Visual Arts Council at Neutral Zone, Ann Arbor Michigan |
| 💙🆓 | January 19 4:30pm-6:30pm | How Do We Get From Here to There? at Ypsilanti District Library – Superior, Ypsilanti Michigan |
| 🆓🎟 | January 19 4:30pm-6:00pm | Youth Now Climate Action at Neutral Zone, Ann Arbor Michigan |
| 💙 | January 19 6:00pm-7:00pm | LEGO Letterpress at Downtown Branch of AADL, Ann Arbor Michigan |
Celebrate Black History Month in Ann Arbor
Visit Black History Sites in Ann Arbor
Why not take this opportunity to visit the African American Cultural and Historical Museum of Washtenaw County. As of January 6, we are waiting for their Black History Month Schedule including open hours.
Several parks in Ann Arbor also have connections to Black History.
- Dr Harold J Lockett Park is named for the first black president of the Ann Arbor Board of Education
- Wheeler Park is named for the first African American mayor of Ann Arbor
- Beckley Park is named for an abolitionist minister Guy Beckley. His home, adjacent to the park, was a stop on the Underground Railroad
I am sure there are others that I am not aware of…Please let me know so I can list them.
Black History Month Events
Events will be added to this list throughout February, so be sure to check back for more events.
| Date/Time | Event | |
|---|---|---|
| 💙🆓 | February 18 6:00pm-8:00pm | Celebrating Blackness at Ypsilanti District Library – Michigan Ave Branch, Ypsilanti Michigan |
2025 Events We Are Watching For
Events will continue to be announced as MLK Day and Black History draw closer. We are including events from 2025 that we will be checking for 2026 updates.
MLK Events
| Date/Time | Event | |
|---|---|---|
| 💙🆓 | January 12 2:00pm-3:30pm | Jazz, Spirituals, and Civil Rights at Ypsilanti District Library – Whittaker Rd, Ypsilanti Michigan |
| 💙🆓 | January 20 12:00pm-2:00pm | MLK Day Celebration at Ypsilanti District Library – Superior, Ypsilanti Michigan |
| 💙🆓🎟 | January 20 1:30pm-4:45pm | King: A Filmed Record...Montgomery to Memphis at Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor MI |
| 💙🆓🎟 | January 20 3:00pm-5:00pm | MLK Day 6th Annual Freedom Songs Sing-Along at Jewish Community Center, Ann Arbor Michigan |
| 💙🆓 | January 20 6:30pm-7:30pm | Martin Luther King Jr. and War: Then and Now at Downtown Branch of AADL, Ann Arbor Michigan |
Black History
| Date/Time | Event | |
|---|---|---|
| 💙🆓 | February 5 6:00pm-7:30pm | African Americans and Labor at Ypsilanti District Library – Superior, Ypsilanti Michigan |
| 💙🆓 | February 5 6:00pm-7:00pm | Physical Computing with the Raspberry Pi at Downtown Branch of AADL, Ann Arbor Michigan |
| 💙🎟 | February 7 7:30pm | Street Songs and the Storyteller at Pathways to Success, Ann Arbor Michigan |
| 💙🆓 | February 19 6:30pm-8:30pm | Attack from Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America at Ypsilanti District Library – Whittaker Rd, Ypsilanti Michigan |
| 💙🆓 | February 22 2:00pm-3:00pm | Travel to Timbuktu with Aisha Traore at Ypsilanti District Library – Whittaker Rd, Ypsilanti Michigan |
| 💙🆓 | February 27 5:15pm-7:00pm | Malinda Russell's Domestic Cook Book at Downtown Branch of AADL, Ann Arbor Michigan |
| 💙🆓 | February 27 6:30pm-7:30pm | Pillars of Service - Exploring African American Greek Life at Ypsilanti District Library – Superior, Ypsilanti Michigan |
| 💙🆓 | February 28 6:00pm-8:30pm | Black History Month Movie Night at Neutral Zone, Ann Arbor Michigan |
