Your weekend guide: Check out all the family fun, education and reflection happening on MLK Weekend

Above image is courtesy of the Kelly Strayhorn Theater’s MLK Celebration.

With schools closed on Monday for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, there are plenty of events happening in and around the city. Families can spend some time together reflecting on the work of Dr. King. And there is also a great lineup of museum and library events perfect for a chilly weekend. Make the most of your long weekend with these local happenings:

Thursday, Jan. 16 and Friday, Jan. 17: “Cat Kid Comic Club” at the Byham Theater

This hilarious musical adaptation of Dav Pilkey’s “Dog Man” spin-off series, “Cat Kid Comic Club,” is sure to entertain. Cat Kid and Molly Pollywog have started an epic club to teach 21 rambunctious baby frogs how to make their own comics. Tickets are $12-$30.

Friday, Jan 17: Teen Time at CLP Lawrenceville, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

For kids in grades 6 to 12, this free hangout session is a place to connect with peers, read or create, or even play a board game. Facilitated by library staff, Teen Time gives kids a place to hang out and be themselves in a welcoming and inclusive environment. Find more details here.

Friday, Jan. 17 and Saturday, Jan. 18: Teen and Tween Paint Parties at Vintage Max Mercantile

The region’s newest independent bookstore is hosting two painting events. On Friday, Jan. 17, kids 14 and up are welcome from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for a guided painting session where they will create a kitty-themed canvas to benefit Whisker Wonderland, a local cat rescue in Bellevue. Tweens ages 9-13 have their own event from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18. At the teen event, some kittens will be available to pet (there will be no kittens at the tween event, though proceeds will benefit the rescue). Heads up, parents: There’s also an adult paint night on Jan. 18. The cost of these sessions is $40. Please register here.

Friday, Jan. 17-Sunday, Jan. 19: “Looking Forward: The Ruby Bridges Story” with Prime Stage Theatre Co.

At the New Hazlett Center for Performing Arts, Prime Stage Theater once again brings a compelling historical narrative designed for kids. This show runs through Jan. 26. The play covers the true story of Ruby Bridges. In 1960, 6-year-old Ruby became the first African-American student to attend an all-white grade school in New Orleans. Experience her remarkable journey as she blazes a trail for generations to follow. Tickets are $39 for grownups, $19 for kids. (Note: The Jan. 17 performance is pay what you can. And a sensory-friendly performance is planned for Jan. 25.)

Saturday, Jan. 18 and Sunday, Jan. 19: Frick Winterfest 2025 at The Frick Pittsburgh

This annual celebration of the snowy season includes live performances, art-making activities, historic home tours, cozy treats and warm beverages from The Café at the Frick. It’s the perfect chance to check out this unique local museum for the first time, if your family has not visited previously. Find the complete schedule here. (And learn more about Winterfest right here.)

Saturday, Jan. 18 and Sunday, Jan. 19: PiratesFest 2025 at the David Lawrence Convention Center

The weather is still cold and snowy, but it’s already time to begin thinking about opening day at PNC Park. Celebrate the upcoming Pirates season and engage in fun experiences, interactive games and opportunities to meet with Pirates players. Reserve your free tickets here.

Sunday, Jan. 19: “Discovery Time: Things with Wings” at the Frick Environmental Center, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The Frick Environmental Center is home to many amazing educational events. At this Discovery Time event, kids will learn about the wide variety of wings in the animal world. They can take a close look at feathers, make their own butterfly, or become one themselves by putting on a pair of butterfly wings. This event is open to all ages but is designed for little learners ages 3-8 years. Registration is free.

Sunday, Jan 19: Journal Making at the Children’s Museum, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

This event, which is for ages 9 and up, is included with the price of admission. Come to the Tech Lab for ongoing instruction on bookbinding. You can stop by for a few minutes or spend the afternoon. Kids can make journals and sketchbooks from upcycled materials. Find more information here.

Monday, Jan. 20: An MLK Day Celebration Through Art & Advocacy at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

KST’s annual day of reflection, unity, and creative expression begins with activities in the lobby, followed by performances in the theater. Included are Hill Dance Academy Theatre faculty, Guardians of Sound’s Hip Hop Orchestra and students from Los Sabrosos Dance Company. Admission is “pay what moves you” from $0-$25.

Monday, Jan. 20: Let Freedom Sing at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater, 7:30 p.m.

The 18th annual “Let Freedom Sing” Concert celebrates the social justice legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through vocal and instrumental music as well as spoken word. Tickets are “pay what moves you” from $2-$50.

Monday, Jan. 20: Youth Poet Laureate Commencement at City of Asylum, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Come celebrate local creativity at this event honoring the 2024–2025 Youth Poet Laureate of Allegheny County, Oluwatobiloba Olaore, as well as the new Youth Poet Ambassadors Vanshika Jain, Linda Kong, Monroe Law and Sarah Voigt. The young poets will perform pieces they have developed and refined during workshops led by professional poets over the last several months at the City of Asylum on the North Side from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Find more information about the event right here, and learn about Olaore and the Youth Poet Laureate program right here.

Looking for more MLK Day events? Check out our guide to those right here. Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter so you’re always in the loop of local family happenings.