Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend

DAY 1:

• Kick off your long weekend at the 5th annual Hopkinton Center for the Arts Winter Blues Fest, hosted by Chris Fitz and featuring three killer sets.
• Cozy in for the weekend at The Warren Conference Center, nestled in the Ashland Woods, and enjoy the warm fireplace in their spacious lobby with serene water views. Try out their winter ice skating rink and warm up with a Neapolitan Pizza and chic cocktail at Henry’s Place, their onsite restaurant.

DAY 2:

• Enjoy fluffy pancakes, bottomless coffee and good vibes at Sunnyside Café in Ashland.
• Spend some time exploring the Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller Collection at the Danforth Art Museum and see her groundbreaking depictions of the African and African American experience.
• Delve into the Framingham History Center’s collection of biographies and historical documents of Framingham’s earliest Black population, including slavery bills of sale from the 1700’s, court documents regarding slaves’ manumission, rosters of Black Americans who fought in the Revolutionary War and more.
• As you leave the History Center, head diagonally across the Common to Plymouth Church. This is where the Framingham Anti-Slavery Society got its start in 1837, and in 1862 the church was the site of the first public singing of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
• Visit the Natick Historical Society & Museum to view their collection of rare books, household treasures, historical prints and memorabilia of Natick’s famous abolitionists, including Harriet Beecher Stowe and Henry Wilson, Vice President to Ulysses S. Grant.
• As you make your way back to Ashland for the evening, a stop at Doragon Eatery for authentic ramen offers a simple, restorative close to a day of learning and reflection.

DAY 3:

• Head up to Boston for the day and visit the Museum of Fine Arts as they celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. Experience “A Little History”, an interactive performance that tells the stories of nine legendary figures in Black History and the Living Water Performance, a dynamic gospel group known for its powerful sound and unwavering commitment to spreading the message of hope and faith.  While in Boston, be sure to visit “The Embrace”, a memorial featuring Dr. King and Coretta Scott King in the Boston Common.