Honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. at one of these service events in Portland. All of the community activities below are free to attend, yet most ask you to RSVP if you plan on attending on January 18, 2021.
If you are looking for ways to give back, view my list of volunteer from home activities for Portland nonprofits.
Follow each link to register and check for any changes.
2021 MLK Day Events in Portland
36th Annual MLK Tribute
Join World Arts Foundation, Inc. to celebrate the 36th anniversary of the life and work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year’s theme is “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” The event is virtual this year and can be streamed on multiple sites from 12-5 p.m.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day Celebration
Local Lounge is hosting an MLK day event on their outdoor patio. It will feature a cocktail hour from 5-6 p.m. and a viewing of the movie Selma starting at 6 p.m. The movie will be followed by a community discussion. The event is free to attend, but you do need to reserve a free ticket.
Free Admission to National Parks
MLK Day also marks the first of 6 free entrance days to U.S. national parks. Visit Fort Vancouver, or another national park in Oregon or Washington.
Free Washington State Park Entrance
In 2021, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is offering outdoor enthusiasts 11 free days to get out and see the wild side of the Evergreen State. MLK Day is one of them.
MLK Day Volunteer Planting
Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership is hosting planting events in Troutdale and Vancouver. Events start at 9 a.m. and 11:30 am. You must register to participate and each event has a limited number of volunteer spots available.
Oregon State University’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
Angela Davis, American political activist, philosopher, academic and author, will be the keynote speaker for this event. The celebration will commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. while honoring members of the Oregon State community who carry his message and work forward in the present. The event is from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Register for the free event.
Portland Playhouse Community Reading
Join Portland Playhouse from 4-6 pm for a virtual community reading of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s sermon “The American Dream,” originally delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA on July 4, 1965. Register for the free event.
The Skanner Foundation 35th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast
The Skanner Foundation’s annual event is going virtual for 2021 from 9-10 a.m. Enjoy special addresses from US Sen. Ron Wyden, Mayor Ted Wheeler, an expert on health and the African American Community, and others. It will also feature Portland’s singer/songwriter Tahirah Memory, Jazz musician Mike Phillips, Portland Symphonic Choir with Dorcas Brown Smith, and others to inspire us to begin 2021 with joy and determination to bring Dr. King’s dream a little closer to reality. Register for the free event.
11th annual Yamhill County Dr. Martin Luther King Day Celebration
The annual event is going virtual for 2021. Dr. Carol Parker Walsh, a career strategist and coach and the Assistant Director of the IDEA Center at George Fox University, will be the keynote speaker.The event starts at 6 p.m. and will be livestreamed on Youtube, Facebook, and Zoom.
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