Join community members for Southern Oregon’s 37th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Historic Ashland Armory in downtown Ashland. The event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited and available on a first come basis. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. This is a family event and all ages are welcome. The show will also be live-streamed at SOMLK.org. The celebration is sign-language interpreted.
This year, the celebration’s theme is “The battle is in our hands…We must keep going…The end we seek is a society at peace with itself, one that can live with its conscience.”
Kamilah Long will host this year’s celebration, featuring a keynote from Oregon Shakespeare Festival Artistic Director Tim Bond. The program will include performances by the Dave Story Band, B.A.S.E. Drummers, Helman Elementary and Ashland School District Middle School, and more. There will also be a video commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which B.A.S.E. produced to highlight art done by youth members. These pieces will be featured at the Rogue Gallery and Art Center during Black History Month 2025.
Finally, in keeping with a long-time tradition, we will march from the Armory to the downtown Plaza to hear Dr. King’s original, “I Have a Dream,” speech.
Details at a glance (for short press release)
What: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Celebration
When: Noon to 1:30 p.m. Monday, January 20. Doors will open at 11:30 am
Where: Historic Ashland Armory, 208 Oak St., Ashland
Overflow location: Once the Armory is filled, OSF’s Carpenter Hall will be a livestream location. The show will also be live streamed at SOMLK.org
Admission: FREE, but donations are welcome. We encourage everyone to bring non-perishable food items to donate to the Ashland Food Bank.
This is a true community event with sponsors and participants from the Ashland Chamber of Commerce, Travel Ashland, the City of Ashland, The Ashland School District, Southern Oregon University, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland Food Co-Op, Black Southern Oregon Alliance, and B.A.S.E.
