Downtown honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Monday, Jan. 18 is a day dedicated to the achievements and the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Many Downtown venues will hold special events. For a complete calendar of events, call Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. at 237.2222 or search online at www.indydt.com.

Madame Walker Theatre Center and Indiana Avenue
The fourth annual Freedom Walk on the Avenue will begin at the Indianapolis Urban League on Jan. 18 and will follow the walkway of Indiana Avenue to the Madame Walker Theatre Center. Doors at the Indianapolis Urban League open at 11 a.m. Preceding the Freedom walk, The Madame Walker Theatre Center will commemorate American icon Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in a 90-minute commemorative celebration at 12:15 p.m. The program entitled Keep the Dream Alive will feature local artists, literary artists and dance ensembles presenting dances of praise. This annual celebration is FREE to the public. For more information, call 236.2099 or visit at www.walkertheatre.com.

Free admission at White River State Park attractions
Visitors who bring a canned good for Gleaners Food Bank will receive one free admission per person per attraction in White River State Park on Monday, Jan. 18, in recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Bring donated items to the Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis Zoo, IMAX Theater, Eiteljorg Museum, NCAA Hall of Champions and Victory Field. There is one free admission for each can of food contributed.

The Indiana State Museum invites families to celebrate and honor the life of civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Festivities include documentary films and several performances. Visit www.indianamuseum.org for more information.

Visit the IMAX Theater to see "Lewis & Clark” at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. or “Under the Sea 3D” at 11:30 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. Call 233.4629 or log on to www.imaxindy.com for more information.

Come by Victory Field between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and check out the Negro League Memorabilia display thanks to JJ Collectibles. The Indian’s Mascot, Rowdie will also be there to sign autographs.

The NCAA Hall of Champions will be serving hot chocolate as well as hosting athletes from Butler University and IUPUI. Athletes will tell their stories and share experiences, sign autographs and take photos. Doors open at 10 a.m. with activities beginning at the top of each hour. Log on to www.ncaahallofchampions.org for more information.

The Indianapolis Zoo will be open from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. For those tired of the cold, visit the Tropical Adventure exhibit. Enjoy a lush tropical oasis complete with towering palm trees, stunning orchids, banana plants, colorful bromeliads, goldfish ponds, bamboo bridges and more. Parking and White River Junction Train rides will also be complimentary, weather depending. Log on to www.indyzoo.com or call 630.2001 for more information.

Visit the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art to see the paintings, drawings and sculptures that expose visitors to vastly different artistic visions of the West. More information is available by calling 636.9378 or visiting www.eiteljorg.org.

Celebrate the life, dream and legacy of the late Dr. King at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis Jan. 18 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The museum will offer all guests special entertainment throughout the day with FREE admission! For more information, log on to www.childrensmuseum.org or call 317.334.3322 for more information.

Conseco Fieldhouse will host the Harlem Globetrotters at 2 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 18 for their annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day game. The tour will feature an exciting new show with amazing ball handling and fresh comedy. Visit www.consecofieldhouse.com for more information.

The Indianapolis Museum of Art celebrates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Enjoy interactive activites, gallery tours, games and art activities for all ages. At 4 p.m., enjoy The Rosa Parks Story, a special film screening in the Tobias Theatre. Visit www.imamuseum.org or call 923.1331 for more information.

Visit the IUPUI Informatics Building on Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. to view a FREE special screening of Roots Germania, a documentary by Afro-German filmmaker Mo Asumang. The film addresses multicultural issues in modern Germany. For more information on the film, visit www.roots-germania.com.