(Portland, OR) –
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is bringing back an amazing series of Summer Free For All events for 2024. The wildly popular annual program is made possible by the 2020 voter-approved Parks Local Option Levy (Parks Levy). Summer Free For All includes the third annual East Portland Summer Arts Festival on July 6 and 7, 2024. This year’s festival headliners are Grammy-nominated soul and R&B artist Allen Stone, and Grammy-winning percussionist and pop icon Sheila E.
The East Portland Summer Arts Festival will run from 6 to 8:30 pm each day at Ventura Park, 460 SE 113th Avenue in Portland.
Summer Free For All HAS it all
Along with the East Portland Summer Arts Festival, this year’s program features more than 50 events for people of all ages, including multicultural festivals, free outdoor movies, concerts, and fun experiences across the city.
For schedules and information, visit the Summer Free For All webpage. Schedules are currently available in English and Spanish, and will soon be posted in Russian, Somali, Chinese, Vietnamese, and many other languages.
Filling the summertime meal gap with Free Lunch + Play
More than 50% of young Portlanders qualify for free and reduced lunches during the school year. Portland Parks & Recreation supports families by offering nutritious meals and recreational activities during the summer break when most schools are not in session. PP&R’s Free Lunch + Play meals are accompanied by play activities including sports, games, arts, crafts, music, and other activities provided by trained staff, PP&R’s arts centers and community program partners. This institution (Portland Parks & Recreation) is an equal opportunity provider.
Free Lunch + Play is delivered in partnership with four local public school districts including Portland, Centennial, David Douglas, and Parkrose at about two dozen parks across the city (Monday through Friday) and five Mobile Lunch + Play sites in East Portland (days vary; see the online schedule for details).
Mobile Lunch + Play
Portland Parks & Recreation brings the Free Lunch + Play experience to children at four apartment complexes and one park for kids to enjoy meals, arts, crafts, games, and sports.
The Summer Free For All programs are made possible the 2020 Parks Local Option Levy, a critical community investment. As promised to Portland voters, the Parks Levy is delivering for the city, providing recreational programs including family-friendly movies and concerts, fitness and art classes, teen- and senior-focused programs, life-saving swim lessons, and more. The Parks Levy also allows PP&R to remove financial barriers, and Summer Free For All’s free programming eliminates cost as a barrier to participation. Thank you, Portland, for your support of the Parks Levy!
“Summer Free For All is one of the best ways to get introduced to all that Portland Parks & Recreation has to offer,” says Parks Director Adena Long. “And when school is out, Portland Parks & Recreation helps fill the summer meal gap with Free Lunch + Play offerings in parks, and even at apartment complexes. It’s going to be another lively season full of memorable events.”
Washington Park Summer Festival: August 10-11 at the Rose Garden Amphitheater
Events begin at 6pm each day.
A weekend of live outdoor performances by Dance Church and Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theater with live music by Darrell Grant and his ensemble on Saturday, August 10. Sunday, August 11 will feature Ballet Papalotl and Edna Vazquez with Mariachi Portland.
Movies, concerts, and cultural events
- Movie highlights include a screening of Barbie and some classic films like Independence Day, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Little Mermaid, and much more.
- A few concert highlights include BridgeCity Soul, Melao de Cuba Salsa Orchestra, Opera in the Park Portland, and King Louie and Andy Stokes.
- New and special event highlights include the inaugural Samoan Festival, Television in the Park, and Hip-Hop in the Park.
Summer Free For All events at Gateway Discovery Park
Building community through culture and play at PP&R’s Gateway Discovery Park! Free summer fun includes daily drop-in activities for youth ages 18 and under from 10am-4pm Monday through Friday with free lunch offered 11-11:45am. Performances for youth and families will be held on Wednesdays from 11:30am-12:30pm, June 26 through August 21. This series features local artists including Aaron Nigel Smith, DJ Anjali and The Incredible Kid, Olive and Dingo, and more!
Special summer cultural events in the park include People of the Drum, featuring live music and drumming workshops by Mexica Tiahui, Alex Addy Drummers, Oregon Korean Performing Arts, and Portland Taiko on Saturday, July 20 from 11:00 am-1:00 pm. The 2024 Tonga Day Festival will be held on August 17 from 12-5 pm celebrating Tongan heritage through cultural performances, live music, community, and food.
Free Open Play Swim sessions at PP&R pools, part of Summer Free For All
Most of Portland Parks & Recreation’s popular outdoor pools are open through August 23. Creston Pool and Peninsula Pool will remain open through September 6 with a modified schedule. Each outdoor pool listed below will host a weekly free swim session in addition to regularly scheduled swim lessons, open play swims, and water fitness offerings:
- Creston Pool – Free swim on Mondays 6:30 pm-8 pm
- Grant Pool – Free swim on Wednesdays 1 pm-3 pm
- Montavilla Pool – Free swim on Tuesdays 6:30 pm-8 pm (when pool reopens July 22)
- Peninsula Pool – Free swim on Tuesdays 1 pm-3:45pm
- Pier Pool – Free swim on Thursdays 1:30 pm-3:30 pm Temporarily closed for repairs as of July 1, 2024
- Sellwood Pool – Free swim on Wednesdays 6:30 pm-8 pm
Fitness in the Park
Fitness in the Park offerings are all FREE beginning this summer! Free fitness classes began June 24 and run through August 30 at seven Portland parks and one Portland Parks Golf course. Portland Parks & Recreation’s Fitness in the Park program helps Portlanders stay active and achieve their fitness goals while connecting to people and nature in parks. The schedule is available online.
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