Local Martin Luther King Jr. Day service events & happenings

To celebrate the life, work and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., many museums, organizations and centers are holding family activities and days of service. Take time to honor and remember one of history's greatest.

Eastern State Penitentiary (22nd Street and Fairmount Avenue) will hold readings from King's 1963 Letter from Birmingham Jail at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17, Sunday, Jan. 18 and Monday, Jan. 19. In addition, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on all three days the Art Sanctuary will lead children in activities.

King is honored at the Ocean City High School Hughes Performing Arts Center (6th and Atlantic Ave., Ocean City, N.J.) with a 1 p.m. program on Saturday, Jan. 17 with a Southern comfort meal afterward in the school's cafeteria.

Over the course of two days, the Philadelphia Museum of Art (26th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway) will honor King with family art-making sessions, mini tours, and performances from the St. Thomas Gospel Choir and Danco2 on Sunday, Jan. 18 and Monday, Jan. 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

If the kids are off from school on Monday, Jan. 19, they can celebrate biodiversity at the Brandywine Zoo (1001 N. Park Dr., Wilmington, Del.) with stories, crafts and animal sightings. Younguns ages 5 to 13 can get dropped off between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and get picked up at 5 p.m.

A similar affair of the artistic nature takes place at Wayne Art Center (413 Maplewood Ave., Wayne), where kids in kindergarten through fifth grade can get their hands dirty with crafts, clay and more on Monday, Jan. 19. Half- and full-day sessions are available: 9 a.m. to noon (morning session), 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (afternoon session) and 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (full-day session).

Volunteer your time on Monday, Jan. 19 to the green space of Bartram's Garden (54th Street and Lindbergh Boulevard.). Help out at a service day, starting at 9 a.m. and round out the afternoon with free lunch.

In addition to being a drop-off location for donated school supplies, the National Constitution Center (525 Arch St.) will host a quilting and sewing project in support of local nonprofit Women Against Abuse as a part of the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. In addition, expect performances, a reading from the "I Have a Dream" speech, a live show on King's legacy, and more. The museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 19.

Usually closed on Mondays, enjoy free admission at the National Museum of American Jewish History (5th and Market Streets) on Monday, Jan. 19 for a performance from Sister Cities Girlchoir (11 a.m.), family art project lead by Fleisher Art Memorial (11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.), a film screening (11 a.m.), and more. The museum is open from 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The historic John Chad's House (1736 Creek Rd., Chadds Ford) will be open for tours, beehive-oven-baking demonstrations, refreshments, screenings of King's speeches, and more from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 19.

After you lent a hand to the cleanup efforts of Historic Fairhill (Cambria Street and Germantown Avenue, sip on hot chocolate, read works from King, sing songs, and more at this service day, beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 19.

Between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 19, the National Liberty Museum (321 Chestnut St.) will be open for self-guided tours and kids crafts. A sold-out educational tour and activity will kick off at 11 a.m. for those who managed to get in on the registration.

The African American Museum in Philadelphia (701 Arch St.) has the entertainment and service agenda booked on Monday, Jan. 19 with performances (from Sister Cities Girlchoir, Walnut Street Theatre and more), arts and crafts, scavenger hunt, T-shirt and tote-bag making, magic, and interactive displays. The fun goes down from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Between traditional pieces and works by Brahms and Hannibal, the Philadelphia Orchestra pays tribute to King with a free concert at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 19 at the Girard College Chapel (2101 S. College Ave.) featuring choirs from the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts.

Rounding things out on Tuesday, Jan. 20 is the University of Pennsylvania's MLK Lecture Series featuring Rosario Dawson, Tiffany Persons and Abrima Erwiah. The trio will be discussing social justice work at the 5:30 p.m. talk at the Zellerbach Theater (3680 Walnut St.).