Events across the North Olympic Peninsula will mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday.
The holiday and day of service marks the birthday of the civil rights leader.
King was born Jan. 15, 1929, in Atlanta. He was shot and killed in Memphis, Tenn., on April 4, 1968.
In 1983, legislation was signed to mark King’s birthday as a federal holiday. In 1994, Congress designated the holiday as a national day of service.
Here is a sample of activities set to mark the day, with some occurring this weekend:
Parks, forest
OLYMPIA — Olympic National Park, Olympic National Forest and state parks will admit visitors for free Monday only while state parks will waive the Discover Pass requirement Sunday and Monday.
On Monday, entrance fees will be waived for Olympic National Park, and Olympic National Forest will waive fees at most of its day-use recreation sites.
During free days at state parks, a Discover Pass still will be required to be displayed on vehicles on lands managed by the state departments of Natural Resources and Fish and Wildlife.
Discover Passes are $30 each. One-day passes are $10 each.
The national park entrance fee is $15 per vehicle for a single visit, which is good for seven consecutive days, or $30 for an annual pass.
PORT ANGELES
MLK 5K Dream Run
PORT ANGELES — The Serenity House of Clallam County will host the Dream Run, a 5K run and walk, with registrations starting at 8 a.m. Monday.
Participants may walk or run the Olympic Discovery Trail course, starting at City Pier at the base of Lincoln Street.
The run/walk begins at 9 a.m. Entrants with dogs must have them on a leash.
This event is open to the public, and a donation of $10 per entrant will go directly to securing safe and stable housing for homeless community members, to be contacted during the Point in Time Homeless Count on Jan. 23.
For more information, contact Brent Shively at 360-452-1439 or serenityhouse.brent@gmail.com.
MLK trail clearing
PORT ANGELES — Volunteers with the North Olympic Land Trust and Peninsula Trails Coalition will remove scotch broom, a non-native invasive plant, along Siebert Creek from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Monday.
The public is welcome to pitch in.
The meeting place is the Wild Current Way parking lot off Old Olympic Highway.
Bring sturdy work gloves and wear boots.
Volunteers will also assist with trail maintenance and beautification on the Olympic Discovery Trail and the adjacent Siebert Creek Conservation Area.
To RSVP or for more information, phone Lorrie Mittmann, stewardship director of the North Olympic Land Trust, at 360-417-1815, ext. 7.
PORT TOWNSEND
‘The Loving Story’
PORT TOWNSEND — The Rose Theatre will screen “The Loving Story,” a movie about an interracial couple in the Jim Crow South, in a free showing at 1 p.m. Monday.
To assure seating, movie-goers are urged to pick up free tickets — maximum two per person — in advance at the theater, 235 Taylor St.
“The Loving Story,” made in 2011, follows Mildred and Richard Loving, whose 1958 marriage was illegal in their home state of Virginia.
Mildred was black and Native American; her husband was white.
Their case went before the U.S. Supreme Court, where, nine years later, laws against interracial marriage were struck down across the United States.
To learn more about the documentary, visit www.LovingFilm.com, and to watch the trailer, visit www.RoseTheatre.com.
Schooner work weekend
PORT TOWNSEND — The schooner Adventuress’ crew is holding its annual work weekend in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday in the Boat Haven.
Volunteers will paint and sand the 101-year-old vessel as well as work on blocks.
Participants should come prepared for working outdoors by dressing warmly and are welcome to bring their own sanders, scrapers and personal protective equipment.
Due to repairs to the interior, there will be no overnight lodging available, although meals will be served, according to Capt. Daniel Evans.
The boat is located at Haven Boatworks, 305 Eighth St., in the Boat Haven’s southern portion.
For more information, email Evans at daniel@soundexp.org.
MLK work party
PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend Marine Science Center, AmeriCorps and staff are hosting a day of service from noon to 4 p.m. on Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday.
“Building on last year’s progress, we will continue our work to control invasive scotch broom and English ivy in Fort Worden State Park,” said Jean Walat, program director.
“The day starts at our Natural History Exhibit with a short presentation about noxious weeds and recent plant restoration work in Fort Worden by the Jefferson County Noxious Weed Board and the Olympic chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society.”
All are welcome.
Attendees should dress for the weather and bring leather or gardening gloves.
PTMSC will provide weed wrenches and light refreshments.
Fort Worden will permit volunteer hours at this event to count toward acquiring a Discover Pass.
A document will be provided to record hours for submission to Fort Worden.
A current Discover Pass is required in the park.
For more information, email Shannon Phillips at sphillips@ptmsc.org or phone 360-385-5582, ext. 110.
‘Stone soup,’ stories
PORT TOWNSEND — Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day with “stone soup” and stories of poverty.
The commemoration will be at 10 a.m. at the fellowship at 2333 San Juan Ave.
Participants are asked to bring one vegetable for a community “stone soup” — an idea based on a folk tale about making soup from a stone as community members bring ingredients to add to it — that will be prepared during the program.
It will be served for lunch along with cheese and bread donated by Mount Townsend Creamery and Pane d’Amore Artisan Bakery.
Also planned are stories from community members on how poverty affects them; music by Ahamad Baabahar, Kreea Baabahar and PT Songlines choir; and theatrics by the Poetic Justice Troupe.
