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Summer Free For All returns
04/25/2018
Portland Parks & Recreation’s Summer Free For All returns with
Movies, Concerts, Free Lunch + Play, and more
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R)’s wildly popular Summer Free For All (SFFA) series returns for 2018 beginning Tuesday, June 12, with amazing outdoor citywide events—all summer long. Summer Free For All (SFFA) is a community-building, annual series consisting of free and culturally diverse, music, movies, and recreation programs. This year, Movies in the Park and Concerts in the Park will take place at 43 different parks across the city, and the Free Lunch + Play program will again provide free lunches to youth while classes are not in session, in partnership with five local school districts.
SUMMER FREE FOR ALL THIS YEAR INCLUDES:
2018 is the 12th season of free Movies in the Park. Portland Parks & Recreation is planning on showing around 35 Movies – including Coco, presented en español at our annual Festival Latino at the new Thomas Cully Park (grand opening on Saturday, June 30, 2018. 11:30am-4pm).
This year PP&R is proud to present a Bollywood documentary shown in Hindi with English subtitles, Chak de! India, on Wednesday, August 15 at Laurelhurst Park, in conjunction with Indian Independence Day.
There are 30 free, culturally diverse Concerts in the Park are on this year’s schedule, including music from Bloco Alegria (Rio-style samba), The Slants (Chinatown dance rock), Trujillo (Chicano rock), Portland Interfaith Gospel Choir (led by LaRhonda Steele), Speaker Minds (hip-hop and funk) and Dina y Los Rumberos (Cuban). PP&R is showing movies and concerts at 43 different parks across the city.
Through the Free Lunch + Play program - and thanks to our school district partners - PP&R expects to serve more than 100,000 free, healthy lunches to children this summer in parks, PP&R community centers, and an east Portland apartment complex. 57% of young Portlanders qualify for free or reduced-price lunch during the school year. Portland Parks & Recreation supports families by offering nutritious meals and recreational activities during the summer break from school. The Free Lunch + Play program is accompanied by sports, games, crafts, and family activities. Lunches will be served at 25 sites across the city, including the new Luuwit View Park.
Mobile Play, part of Free Lunch + Play
Our Mobile Play program is back and will travel to seven sites in east Portland in park-deficient areas. Portland Parks & Recreation brings the park and play experience to children at apartment complexes and sites for kids to enjoy games and sports.
Washington Park Summer Festival
Enjoy world-class performances at the gorgeous Rose Garden Amphitheater in Washington Park on July 27, 28 and 29, 2018.
- Friday, July 27 – Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theater presents UPRISE
- Saturday, July 28 – Opera in the Park - Tosca by Giacomo Puccini
- Sunday, July 29 – Orquestra Pacifico Tropical
Summer Free For All events of note:
Festival Latino, at Thomas Cully Park on Saturday, August 11, 2018, 4pm until after sunset – vibrant, multicultural annual festival includes a soccer tournament, Zumba and Pound fitness activities with live music, and a showing of the popular movie Coco en español.
Tonga Day 2018 – Saturday, August 18, 2018 at the soon-to-be-open Gateway Discovery Park, 1pm until after sunset – this is the second year of this special event, featuring Tongan and Pacific Islander music and dance performances, food, and a showing of Moana after sundown.
Free performances, festivals, drop-in activities, and more family-friendly fun across Portland!
Come with friends and neighbors – join in the fun, and make memories in your parks this summer!
Stay up to date and follow Portland Parks & Recreation on both Facebook.com/PortlandParks and Twitter, @PDXParksandRec.