Powderhorn Park’s MLK Day Celebration Returns for Its 28th Year
The Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association will host its 28th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration on January 19 at the Powderhorn Park Recreation Center. The free, community-centered event brings together neighbors of all ages through art, youth performances, and collective reflection, continuing a nearly three-decade tradition rooted in honoring Dr. King’s legacy at the neighborhood level.
The 28th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration returns to Powderhorn Park on January 19, bringing neighbors together through art, youth performance, and collective reflection.
A long-standing neighborhood tradition returns to South Minneapolis on Monday, January 19, as the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association hosts its 28th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration at the Powderhorn Park Recreation Center.
Running from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the free public event continues nearly three decades of honoring Martin Luther King Jr. through community gathering, artistic expression, and intergenerational connection. The celebration is presented in collaboration with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, reinforcing Powderhorn Park’s role as a civic and cultural anchor for the surrounding neighborhood.
A Neighborhood Tradition Rooted in Community
Since its inception, the Powderhorn Park MLK celebration has been grounded in the belief that Dr. King’s legacy is best honored through shared space and collective participation. Rather than a formal ceremony, the event functions as a community-centered gathering where families, elders, youth, and neighbors come together to reflect on justice, service, and belonging.
The recreation center setting offers accessibility and familiarity, reinforcing the event’s emphasis on inclusion and local connection. For many attendees, the annual gathering has become a meaningful marker of remembrance, renewal, and community pride.
Art and Performance at the Center
This year’s program features a lineup of artists and performers whose work reflects the celebration’s emphasis on culture, creativity, and community voice.
Performing artists include Jayanthi Rajasa-Kyle with collaborators, Black Poetics under the direction of Tish Jones, and the TKO Drumline alongside the Knock Out Dance Team.
The TKO Drumline and Knock Out Dance Team, led by Byron Hawkins, are known for their youth-centered programming serving young people ages 5 through 18.
The groups perform throughout Minneapolis and beyond, participating in parades, competitions, and community events across multiple states.
Their presence underscores the role of youth arts as both discipline and cultural expression.
Continuing Dr. King’s Legacy Locally
While Dr. King’s work is often remembered through national milestones, the Powderhorn Park celebration centers local responsibility and action. The event reflects the belief that social progress is sustained through neighborhood-level engagement, mentorship, and cultural affirmation.
By centering performance, youth leadership, and shared space, the celebration connects Dr. King’s vision to present-day community life in Minneapolis. The format encourages participation across generations and backgrounds, reinforcing the idea that justice work is collective and ongoing.
Event Details
28th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration
Date: Monday, January 19
Time: 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Location: Powderhorn Park Recreation Center, Minneapolis
Cost: Free and open to the public
Additional details and updates are available through the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association at ppna.org/mlkcelebration.