Martin Luther King Day Events – Ohio
Time to gather the family and take advantage of all the FREE and discounted events being held around Ohio, January 19, 2026, MLK Day.
CUYAHOGA COUNTY – NE OH
Greater Cleveland Aquarium
EXPLORE, CELEBRATE & SAVE $6 DURING DIFFERENCE-MAKERS DAYS
Date: January 17-19, 2026
Location: 2000 Sycamore St., Cleveland, OH
Learn more:greaterclevelandaquarium.com
Throughout MLK Day weekend, interactive signage and activities will highlight African American innovators in biology, research, zoology and scuba diving.
The Aquarium will also donate $1 for every general admission guest ticket purchased onsite during Difference-Makers Days to United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland, Ohio’s only Black Federated human service organization empowering nonprofits and entrepreneurs driving shared prosperity and community change
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Date: January 19, 2026
Time: 10am-5pm
Location: 1 Wade Oval Drive, Cleveland, OH 44106
Free admission.
cmnh.org
Visit the Museum for free this Martin Luther King Jr. Day for a meaningful exploration of Dr. King’s legacy and his connection to science, community, and Cleveland. No ticket or registration is required. Walk-ins are welcome.
Cleveland History Center
Date: January 19, 2026
Time: 10am-5pm
Admission: FREE
Additional charge for carousel ride.
Location: 10825 East Boulevard | Cleveland, Ohio 44106
216-721-5722
wrhs.org
The Cleveland History Center will open on MLK Day 10am to 4pm. We will offer Free admission all day with $3 rides on the Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel. All exhibits will be open. Weber’s Premium Custard will be on site selling Euclid Beach Vanilla and Higbee’s Frosted Malt. In addition to the ongoing museum exhibits, we will have special material on view in the Library related to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other material from the African American History Archive.
Guests are also invited to “Coffee, Cocoa, and Community Conversations” at 12pm. Limited seating is available and advance registration is requested at cletix.com
Cleveland Botanical Gardens
Date: January 19, 2026
Time: 10am – 5pm
Location: Cleveland Botanical Gardens
11030 East Blvd. Cleveland, OH 44106
holdenfg.org
Enjoy free Admission to Cleveland Botanical Garden on Martin Luther King Jr. Day!
Visitors are invited to explore our exotic glasshouses and play in our Perennial Playspace from 10am-5pm. Be sure to stop by our tree cookie activity table from 11am-2pm to make a craft you can take home, advocate for nature-based programs in your area, and learn about how to access more benefits from plants and trees.
Admission is free to all. No advance reservation necessary.
Cleveland Museum of Art
Date: January 19, 2026
Time: 10am-4pm
Location: Ames Family Atrium, Gartner Auditorium and Galleries
11150 East Blvd., Cleveland, OH
clevelandart.org
The RINK at Wade Oval
Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with University Circle. Enjoy special programs and activities in honor of Dr. King throughout the week of Sunday, January 18 through Saturday, January 24. For additional information click here.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Date: January 19, 2026
Time:
Location: 1100 Rock and Roll Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44114
216.781.ROCK | Admission: FREE
website
Enjoy a free admission day at the Rock Hall filled with live performances, education programs and family activities that will highlight how people use music to find their voices and create a sense of community.
Great Lakes Science Center – Martin Luther King Day
Date: January 19, 2026
Times: 10 am – 5 pm
Location: 601 Erieside Ave., Cleveland, OH
216.694.2000
Free general admission.
Click here for additional information.
Guests can enjoy access to special programming including science shows, hands-on science activities, NASA Capsule Chats and more! No reservation required.
Cleveland Orchestra
Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Concert
Date: January 11, 2026
Time: 7pm
Place: Severance’s Mandel Concert Hall and Reinberger Chamber Hall.
Information: clevelandorchestra.com
Although the concert is free, tickets are required and available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning on Saturday, January 3, at 10 a.m.
Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration
Date: January
Time: 11am – 5pm
Location: 2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood, OH 44122
Learn more: maltzmuseum.org
HAMILTON COUNTY – SW OH
Presented by the MLK Coalition
Date: January 19, 2026
Freedom March 10:30 am | Program: Noon
Location: National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
50 East Freedom Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202
website
LAKE COUNTY – NE OH
FUN DAY: Micro World
Lake Metroparks
Date: January 19, 2026
Time: 10am-3pm
Admission: Free. No registration required.
Address: Penitentiary Glen Reservation
8668 Kirtland-Chardon Rd., Kirtland, OH 44094
website
LUCAS COUNTY – NE OH
Strength in Unity
Toledo Museum of Art
Date: January 19, 2026
Time: 11am-5pm
Location: 2445 Monroe St., Lucas, OH
toledomuseum.org
SUMMIT COUNTY – NE OH
Akron Zoo Martin Luther King Day
Date: January 19, 2026
Times: 11am-4pm
Location: 500 Edgewood Ave., Akron, OH
330.375.2550
akronzoo.org
Admission: FREE
Visit the zoo and celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Admission is free for all guests. Parking rates apply.
AKRON, Ohio – The Akron Zoo is offering free admission for all guests on Monday, Jan. 19 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Parking is also free.
MLK Day also brings back the zoo’s popular exhibit, “Celebrating Black History in Perkins Woods.” The exhibit will explore the history of Perkins Woods, a city park where the Akron Zoo currently resides, and will focus on three main topics – how Black residents in Akron expanded the John Brown Monument, fought a plan to move the zoo from Perkins Woods and operated a long-lived Custard Stand at the park’s edge.
“Celebrating Black History in Perkins Woods” will be open Jan. 19 – March 3 from Fridays – Sundays during zoo operating hours of 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Appointments are available during the week and after hours. The exhibit is located in the zoo’s Nature’s Theater and included with general admission.
The Akron Zoo is open 361 days a year. Off-season hours are 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission rates are $11 – $21. Children under two are free and parking is free. For more information visit www.akronzoo.org or call (330) 375-2550.
Founded in 1953, the Akron Zoo is a non-profit, world conservation zoo with more than 2,000 animals from around the world. Located just west of Downtown Akron, the zoo strives to connect your life to wildlife while inspiring lifelong learning and conservation action. The Akron Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats.
Akron Art Museum
Family Days: Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration
Date: January 19, 2026
Times: 11am-5pm
Location: One South High Street, Akron
Free admission.
Tickets: akronartmuseum.org
Celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with FREE public hours at the Museum. Related photographs from the collection will be on view and interactive activities will be available in the lobby.
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