Your 2017 Guide to MLK Day Events & Activities in Des Moines

Your 2017 Guide to MLK Day Events & Activities in Des Moines

Find 2019 MLK Jr Day celebrations and events here.

Martin Luther King, Jr. gave us many reasons to celebrate. There are several events in Des Moines that honor the inspirational civil rights champion. Below, find a list of special celebrations hosted in his honor on MLK Day.  We’ve also listed other special events and activities for families to do on the school holiday. 

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’”  Each year, Americans across the country answer that question by coming together on the King Holiday to serve their neighbors and communities. There are many organizations throughout Central Iowa in need of volunteers and donations.  Visit the National Service website to learn more.

Imagine Enough for Everyone

Imagine Enough for Everyone is an event benefitting the Urbandale Food Pantry.  On January 16th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm bring in personal care items, warm scarves and hats, monetary gifts and food items to the Urbandale Public Library.  As an added benefit for Urbandale Library members you can also participate in Food for Fines, every personal item donated will reduce your library fine by $1 and every food item donated will reduce your library fine by $.50.

MLK Day of Service at CYC

All are welcome to honor Martin Luther King Jr with a fun day of service projects at CYC on January 16, 2017 from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. All projects are kid-friendly, and families are welcome as well as individuals. They will have a few different projects going on at the same time, including making KWAKER cleaner, Rain Art Stencils, help from CYC’s Youth Volunteer Corps of Des Moines “Winter Essentials Project” and more! For additional information contact Jackson at jackson@cyconcepts.org.

Supper Club

Children and Family Urban Movement’s Supper Club provides a place of welcome and a healthy evening meal six days a week for anyone of any age. On January 16, 2016, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm, volunteers will have the opportunity to prepare a meal and serve those in need in the community. The meal can be anything of the volunteer group’s choice, but needs to be enough to feed 75 people. If the volunteers are unable to provide a meal, it is possible for them to come and volunteer as servers. Contact Ericka at ericka@cfum.org or (515) 282-3242 if you need additional information.

ML King Day Packaging Event

Meals from the Heartland will be offering packaging opportunities for volunteers of all ages, all day on January 16, 2017. They still have a few open shifts, which last an hour and a half and can accommodate 60 volunteers to package meals for the hungry here in Iowa and around the world. You can register for the shift on their registration page.  There you will find a listing of the available shift times and the number of people still needed for each shift.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration

The Forest Avenue Library is sponsoring a student art and writing contest as part of their community event honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Attend and see the students whose pieces have been selected present their work during the Library’s annual MLK, Jr. Day Celebration on Monday, January 16, 2017 at 4:00 PM.  You will have the opportunity to enjoy a performance by the Half-Pint Poets and a keynote address by School Board Member Dionna Langford. All six DMPL locations will be CLOSED in recognition of the holiday. Forest Avenue Library will only be open during the program. For more information, please contact Jennifer Thomas, Library Assistant at (515) 248-6260 or jmthomas@dmpl.org.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Off: A Day to Play and Discover

Kids can enjoy their day off and also learn a few things about race, diversity and whether we really are so different at these local attractions in Des Moines.

Van & Bonnie Martin Luther King, Jr. Day FREE SKATE at Brenton Skating Plaza

Join Van & Bonnie from WHO Radio as they team with Brenton Skating Plaza to collect socks, gloves, hats & warm clothing for area shelters.  Drop off your donations and get FREE admission & skate rental from 5:00 to 9:00 am on Monday, January 16, 2017.

FREE Admission at the Science Center of Iowa

Thanks to support from The Principal, admission will be FREE at the Science Center of Iowa on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Sky Zone Will be Open

Typically closed on Mondays, Sky Zone will be open Monday, January 16th, 2017 for MLK Jr. Day! Toddler Time will be from 10:00 to 11:00 am and Open Jump will follow from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Open Jump at The Playground for Kids

The Playground for Kids in Ankeny will be open for business on MLK, Jr. Day from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Take in an Iowa Wild Hockey Game

The Iowa Wild will take on the San Diego Gulls on January 16, 2017 at 7:00 pm.  Monday night’s promo is FREE parking.  Even more of a reason to attend!

 

Don’t forget you can Visit our calendar for even more options!

 

 

 

How will your family celebrate MLK, Jr. day this year? Tell us below!