Photo above, left to right: Ross Swanson, Poison Waters, Priya Dhanapal, Councilor Mitch Green, Councilor Olivia Clark, Darcelle’s son and daughter (Walter Jr. and Maridee), Councilor Dan Ryan, Mayor Keith Wilson, LaWanda Jackson, Lora Lillard. Photography by: Diego G. Diaz.
About the Plaza
Located in Downtown Portland, Darcelle XV Plaza pays tribute to Walter Cole, the legendary performer behind the Darcelle XV Showplace — the longest-running drag cabaret on the West Coast. The plaza is a permanent, public celebration of a figure who shaped Portland’s cultural identity for decades.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony brought together the key partners, stakeholders, and community advocates who made this project possible. It was, in every sense, a Portland moment.
The celebration ran from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, with the formal program and ribbon cutting taking place from 12:00 PM to 12:45 PM.
Emcee Poison Waters guided the crowd through a program filled with joy, reflection, and community pride. Speakers included family and friends of Darcelle, Public Works Deputy City Administrator Priya Dhanapal, Portland City Councilors, and Mayor Keith Wilson.
Before the ceremony, the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus and DJ Aspen set the tone with performances that filled the plaza with music and celebration. The Turquoise Pride Intertribal Drum Group offered a land blessing and drumming, grounding the moment in respect and reverence for the place and its people.
The plaza was packed, especially with members of Portland’s LGBTQ+ community, who turned out in force to honor Darcelle’s legacy and claim this space as their own.
Photography by Diego G. Diaz.
Visit the Plaza
Public spaces like Darcelle XV Plaza are at the core of what makes Downtown Portland worth experiencing. They create gathering points for community, celebrate the people who shaped this city, and signal to residents and visitors alike that Portland is a place where everyone belongs.
Downtown Portland Clean & Safe is proud to support a vibrant, welcoming downtown where spaces like this can thrive — and where the culture, history, and people that make Portland unique are honored for everyone to enjoy.
Darcelle XV Plaza is open to the public and free to visit. It’s one of more than 200 free events and community experiences supported in Downtown Portland each year.
We encourage you to come explore, spend time in this beautiful new space, and discover everything downtown has to offer.
Event calendar
View the Darcelle XV Plaza event calendar.
Downtown Portland Clean & Safe is a public-private partnership dedicated to delivering safety, cleanliness, and community programming throughout the downtown core. Learn more at downtownportland.org.