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MLK Weekend 2026 in Los Angeles: 17 Best Things To Do With Kids

Celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with parades and events all around the city. Photo courtesy of the Kingdom Day Parade
Celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with parades and events all around the city. Photo courtesy of the Kingdom Day Parade
1/14/26 - By Toby B

Looking for the best things to do in Los Angeles this long MLK weekend? From parades to civil rights activities and more, here are our top picks for Martin Luther King Jr. weekend.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is 'What are you doing for others?'" MLK Day of Service events, such as Big Sunday's 14th Annual MLK Day Clothing Drive & Community Breakfast and the LA Works MLK Day Volunteer Festival 2026, give families a chance to spend a day giving back in honor of Dr. King's memory and in support of our fellow Angelenos. 

Additionally, Lunar New Year observances in the Southland offer opportunities for reflection and renewal. Families can ring in the Year of the Horse at the Rancho Cucamonga Lunar Festival and enjoy the all-ages The Wallis Family Fest: Lunar New Year.

Want even more fun things to do this weekend? Our Los Angeles Events Calendar is packed with great family activities every day of the week— and you can filter by age, location, or even free events!

Not on our newsletter list yet? Subscribe for free and get the best local family fun sent straight to your inbox. Already subscribed? Share it with a friend and start planning your weekend together!

 

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Monster Jam is back! Photo by Susan Wooley, 123events.com
Monster Jam is back! Photo by Susan Wooley, 123events.com

Best Things To Do MLK Weekend in Los Angeles with Kids

Academy Museum Drop-in Workshops for Teens

Mid-Wilshire - FREE
Friday, January 16, 2026
The Academy Museum's Education team invites teens to join museum educators on the third Friday of every month for free drop-in workshops. Participants can be inspired by the museum’s exhibitions and screenings, explore the museum, hang out, and get creative. How dramatic: January's Drop-in Workshop for Teens looks at acting. READ MORE

MLK Peace and Unity Parade Celebration

Long Beach - FREE
Saturday, January 17, 2026
Long Beach's Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade and Celebration returns for its 38th year. The annual event celebrates the life and legacy of a visionary who changed the world by promoting equality, justice, and peace. READ MORE

The Wallis Family Fest: Lunar New Year

Beverly Hills - FREE
Saturday, January 17, 2026
The Wallis' winter Family Fest celebrates the Lunar New Year. This free interactive event features lively performances, immersive creative workshops, and traditional foods. READ MORE

Nothin' But Sand Beach Cleanup

Pacific Palisades - FREE
Saturday, January 17, 2026
Kids can get involved and help the environment by participating in this monthly beach cleanup. In January, the cleanup takes on Will Rogers State Beach. READ MORE

Rancho Cucamonga Lunar Festival

Rancho Cucamonga - FREE
Saturday & Sunday, January 17 & 18, 2026
It's the Year of the Horse, and this massive celebration at the RC Sports Center honors this holiday with lanterns, lion dances, and other cultural entertainment. READ MORE

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Concert at the Skirball

Brentwood - FREE
Saturday, January 17, 2026
The Skirball welcomes the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (ICYOLA), the largest Black majority orchestra in the nation. During this evening, over one hundred musicians and choir singers raise their instruments and voices in song to honor the memory of MLK's commitment to delivering civil rights for Black America. This event is free; reserve your space online. READ MORE

Monster Jam (Anaheim)

Anaheim
Saturday & Sunday, January 17 & 18, 2026
Monster trucks smash, crash, and battle their way through Angel Stadium in the Stadium Championship Series.  READ MORE

Big Feelings Weekends at the Cayton

Santa Monica
Saturday - Monday, January 17 - 19, 2026
The Cayton Children’s Museum is launching a new monthly program and we have some Big Feelings about that... READ MORE

Dancing in the Light: Healing with the Arts

Harvard Heights - FREE
Sunday, January 18, 2026
January's Dancing in the Light event is a celebration of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. The event is held at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, and includes a class co-taught by Ms. Allen herself. READ MORE

Dancing in LA: A Performance Series

Exposition Park
Sunday, January 18, 2026
The Natural History Museum debuts its new series with live performances of traditional dances from Korea. READ MORE

19th Annual Southern California Slack Key Festival

Redondo Beach
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Hawaiian music comes to the mainland at the 2026 Southern California Slack Key Festival.  Taking its name from a finger-picking style of guitar playing indigenous to Hawaii, the Slack Key Festival brings the art of ki ho'alu guitar to Redondo Beach. READ MORE

Cinemark National Popcorn Day

Multiple Locations
Sunday, & Monday, January 18 & 19, 2026
On National Popcorn Day,  moviegoers can bring their own bucket or container to any Cinemark theatre, and get it filled to the brim with buttery popcorn for only $5. Literally anything can be a bucket! Folks can get creative and bring in any container, tote, or bag. Cinemark will fill it with popcorn for $5  - up to 400oz (equivalent of 2 XL popcorns), and provides a food grade liner to use on your container. READ MORE

King Day Parade

Leimert Park - FREE
Monday, January 19, 2026
The Kingdom Day Parade, one of the nation's largest events celebrating the life of Martin Luther King, returns to celebrate MLK's life and legacy. This year, the cast of The Neighborhood, including Tichina Arnold, Marcel Spears, Sheaun McKinney, Beth Behrs and Max Greenfield, as well as Grand Marshall Cedric the Entertainer, headline the 2026 parade. READ MORE

CAAM King Day 2026

Exposition Park - FREE
Monday, January 19, 2026
The community is invited to come together to honor Martin Luther King Jr. with a performance by the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, discussions with the King Study Group, family activities, food trucks, and more. Returning this year:  a community service book donation drive supporting the Little Free Library at the Crenshaw Family YMCA. READ MORE

LA Works MLK Day Volunteer Festival 2026

Exposition Park - FREE
Monday, January 19, 2026
The spirit of Martin Luther King's dream of lives on! LA Works holds a Day of Service Volunteer Festival in honor of MLK Day. This year's event invites the community to  join together to bring about Dr. King's vision of a Beloved Community, addressing areas of need including wildfire recovery, uplifting displaced families, and standing with immigrant communities under threat of deportation. READ MORE

41st Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration

Santa Monica - FREE
Monday, January 19, 2026
One of SoCal's largest celebrations of Dr. King's birthday is held in Santa Monica.This year’s event embraces the timely theme “Injustice Anywhere Is a Threat to Justice Everywhere." READ MORE

Big Sunday's 14th Annual MLK Day Clothing Drive & Community Breakfast

Florence - FREE
Monday, January 19, 2026
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Big Sunday once again hosts an in-person event for volunteers, friends, and community members to help sort, count, and pack donated clothing to prepare it for nonprofit recipients. READ MORE
Enjoy free musical story time all month long. Photo courtesy of the Books and Cookies Facebook page
Enjoy free musical story time all month long. Photo courtesy of the Books and Cookies Facebook page

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Snow play is a short drive away from LA! Photo courtesy Big Bear
Snow play is a short drive away from LA! Photo courtesy Big Bear

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Places featured in this article:

Martin Luther King, Jr. Park
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
Natural History Museum: NHM Commons TheaterNatural History Museum: NHM Commons Theater
Participating Cinemark Theatres - including Cinemark Howard Hughes Los Angeles and XD
John Adams Middle School Performing Arts Center
South Park Elementary School