Looking for something to do on the upcoming long weekend that includes a day off from school to honor a civil rights leader? We gathered some of the family-friendly Martin Luther King events Greenville, SC residents should check out if they are looking for ways to honor his life and legacy.
We’ve also included some added special events that can make the long weekend fun for everyone!
Martin Luther King Events: Greenville, SC
Honoring Martin Luther King Jr Through Community Service
Martin Luther King Day of Service: MLK Day of Service Greenville County Wide Litter Cleanup will be all day on January 15th, 2024. Participants can sign up to pick up litter at multiple sites around Greenville that need attention.
Unity Week in Spartanburg, SC: The City of Spartanburg and The United Way will celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during Unity Week in 2024 with different live-streamed, virtual events and volunteer opportunities. Activities include creating care packages, donating blood, cleaning up parks, and more. The entire list of community service activities planned can be found on the United Way Website. Unity Week is a great way to commemorate Dr. King’s legacy while helping our beloved community.
Campground Cleanup in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: We absolutely love camping at the park and if you’re up for a volunteer road trip, this is the place! They are having a campground cleanup on Monday, January 15th from 10 am – 2 pm. To register, please reach out to Trails and Facilities Volunteer Coordinator Adam_Monroe@nps.gov.
Litter Pick Up with Friends of the Reedy River: Friends of the Reedy River have not released information about the 2024 litter pickup day. Dates TBD.
FoRR will provide all other necessary items, such as gloves, vests, trash grabbers, trash bags, tools, etc. The pick-up efforts will be around the Nicholtown and Brutontown Communities. You will receive a confirmation email with your assigned check-in location after you register.
For more info on how you can serve the community in honor of MLK day, there are several national websites to check:
If you’d like more information about places to volunteer in the Upstate, don’t miss our Volunteering Guide.
Learn About The Civil Rights Movement With Help From The Library
The Spartanburg and Greenville Library systems are closed on Monday in observance. The library is the best place to stock up on great books to teach your kids the importance of Martin Luther King, Jr, and the Civil Rights Movement. Here are a couple of excellent book lists to get you started from “What Do We Do All Day?”
- Books About Peace
- Civil Rights Picture Books for Kids
- Books to Inspire Kids to Change the World
- Books that Teach Kids to Combat Racism
- Children’s Books about Protests & Civil Disobedience
Here are a few other books to add to your reading list, for the next trip to the library!
- All Are Welcome, by Alexandra Penfold
- Last Stop On Market Street, by Matt De La Pena
- March: Book One, Book Two, Book Three, by John Lewis
- City Green, by DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan
Events Honoring The MLK Legacy
January 12th – 15th, 2024: HBCU MLK Day Unity Invitational– Bon Secours Wellness Arena: A showcase of 14 college basketball teams from historically black colleges and universities in the US. Monday will feature a March to the Well parade that will begin at City Hall in Downtown Greenville, SC.
January 15th, 2024: 23rd Annual MLK Jr. Day of Celebration Luncheon – Greer: The event will feature a keynote speaker, music, singers, and lunch. Tickets are $10.
Take A Day Trip for Some Hands-On Learning
The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park | Atlanta, GA
In 1980, The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park was established to preserve the places where Martin Luther King, Jr. was born, lived, worked, worshiped, and buried. Each year the 38-acre park hosts nearly a quarter-million guests while sharing the significance of one of the most influential Americans in modern history. Entrance to the park is always free. Learn More About The Martin Luther King and The Black History of Atlanta
The Friendship Nine Lunch Counter | York County, SC
In 1961, 10 College students staged a sit-in at the local McCrory’s Lunch Counter to protest segregation. The men were arrested, and 9 of them refused to pay the fine for these charges, choosing instead to sit in jail for 30 days. The McCrory’s is still there, and you can see the original lunch counter and stools from 1961. The Friendship Nine and their story is an important part of the civil rights movement. Learn More About The Friendship Nine and York County
Things To Do On MLK Day: Schools Out!
Fun In Spartanburg, SC
- Check out a kit from the Spark Space Maker Space at the Headquarters Library over the weekend. They have all kinds of fun kits you can check out to learn to do something new over the weekend!
- Hit the slopes and try out these places to go sledding (if we actually get some snow!)
Fun In Greenville, SC
- Bring kids ages 12 and under to Family Fun Gym time at Acrosmith Gymnastics on Monday, January 15, 2024 at 9 am or 10:15 am. Cost is $6/child and you have to pre-register online.
- Ice on Main‘s last day for the season is Monday, January 15th, 2024.
- Drop your kids off at Artic Art Camp for a few hours with Yellowbobbypins. Cost is $50 from 9 am – 12 pm for ages 5 – 10 years old. Preregistration required.
- Hiking in the winter is great for many reasons – the first probably being that there aren’t any bugs! See our big hiking guide for some suggestions of fun trails.
- If the weather is mild, you can check out this list of Greenville’s Favorite Playgrounds.
Fun Near The Upstate
- Want to go snow tubing or skiing over the long weekend? See our best places to ski and tube near Greenville story.
- Head up to Black Bear Snow Tubing in Hendersonville for some outdoor fun. They are open Noon-6 pm.
- If you’d like to see some gorgeous waterfalls, see our Winter Waterfall Driving Tour (you may get lucky and even see frozen falls!).
- Day trips are also a way to have fun together on the long weekend. We’ve got a huge Travel page for you to browse for ideas. Charleston is full of places to visit and reflect on the things that Martin Luther King Jr. fought to change.
For more ideas on cheap and inexpensive things to do during winter, Head To The Kidding Around Big List of Winter Fun.