Weekend Planner: January 17-19

Enjoy the long weekend! We’ve rounded up the best MLK Day celebrations going on all weekend long. And more festivities abound: there’s the Ice Festival in Central Park, a production of “Still Awake Still!” at the New Victory Theater, and the 2nd annual Black Comic Book Festival. Have fun and honor a great life! Also, don’t miss our upcoming camp fairs both uptown and downtown!

STARTING FRIDAY

Enter the peak of the Gold Rush in a new exhibit at the Discovery Times Square museum inspired by Discovery’s new television show KLONDIKE. Enjoy this slice of history! (Friday-Tuesday)

Revisit the rich history of black comic book artists and work at the 2^nd Annual Black Comic Book Festival at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture—don’t miss the youth workshop on “Creating Your Own Comic Books” in the afternoon. Expect an action-packed day! (Friday-Saturday)

Sony Technology Wonder Lab is playing host to a live musical performance by the KIPP Infinity Middle School Band from one of the top middle schools in New York City. Listen up! (Friday)

Enjoy a festive Shabbat dinner—think music, singing, and family fun—to celebrate the “birthday of trees” at 92Y. Bring your appetite!  (Friday)

STARTING SATURDAY

The children’s music trio, Recess Monkey, which hails from Seattle will make its triumphant return to Symphony Space. Expect hits like “Coconut Radio” and “Fish Sticks.” Dance to the beat! (Saturday)

Jump Leads and Jessica Wilson have traveled all the way from Melbourne, Australia to present their newest production, “Still Awake Still!” at the New Victory Theater. The stars of the show? Miss Ivory Tinklefinger and her scene-stealing grand piano. Piano time! (Saturday-Monday)

Central Park hosts its annual Ice Festival this weekend! Watch renowned ice sculptors from Okamoto Studio carve sculptures of some of the park’s best-known landmarks. Bonus: the Van Leeuwen truck will be on hand to dispense hot cocoa. Chill out! (Saturday)

TADA! Youth Theater presents “The Gift of Winter” based on the book of the same title. In the musical tale, a group of townspeople journey to the Ministry of Winter to rescue the planet from winter’s wrath. Bundle up! (Saturday-February 9)

Learn about the history of the Underground Railroad, then draw a secret map of the places you want to go. Inspired by traditional African American quilts—and in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—participants at  Wave Hill will transfer their maps to cloth and embellish them into a personal “map of freedom.” Pay tribute! (Saturday)

Captain Underpants has to put the mischief-makers George and Harold and their army of evil talking toilets in their place in this special screening at the Scholastic Store. Prepare for an adventure! (Saturday)

Aspiring builders and engineers will enjoy meeting student competitors in the 2014 National Engineers Week Future City Competition at Sony Plaza, where participants will present their 3-D models. Calling all future builders! (Saturday)

To commemorate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Children’s Museum of Manhattan is presenting special events and activities during the holiday weekend and a day-long celebration on MLK Day. Expect mosaic-making workshops, book readings, live jazz, and more. Honor a great! (Saturday-Monday)

Learn about the archaeological treasures discovered during subway tunnel construction and dig up your own artifacts in the New York Transit Museum’s very own “excavation” site. Bring a shovel! (Saturday-Sunday)

SUNDAY

Join children’s folk musician David Grover at the New-York Historical Society. Grover will be performing songs about freedom, equality, and the Civil Rights movement in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Sing along! (Sunday)