Celebration at Historic Ashland Armory will include spoken word, dance, and choral performances from local community members, school districts, and organizations
Ashland.news staff report
Performances by dancers, drummers and singers, a video and keynote address by Oregon Shakespeare Festival Artistic Director Tim Bond are all on the program Monday, Jan. 20, for Ashland’s 37th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Historic Ashland Armory.
The deets:
What: The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebration
When: Noon to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20. Doors open at 11:30 a.m.
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.
Attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to donate to the Ashland Food Bank.
This is a family event and all ages are welcome. The celebration is sign-language interpreted.
This year’s celebration 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 of OSF will emcee a program including performances by Sol Identity, BASE Youth Drummers, BASE Youth Dancers (choreographed by Aisha Wand), Helman Elementary and Ashland School District Middle School Choir, Nina Davis, spoken word from area students, and more.
There will also be a video commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which BASE 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, attendees will march from the Armory to the downtown Plaza to hear Dr. King’s original “I Have a Dream” speech.
The community event is made possible by 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, Jackson County Library Services, and Black Southern Oregon Alliance.
Source: City of Ashland news release. Email Ashland.news at news@ashland.news.
