Photo by NoHo Damon via Flickr
This year Martin Luther King Jr, Day will be celebrating King’s 90th birthday. You can choose to observe the holiday as solemnly or as joyfully as you choose. There are events happening all over Los Angeles this weekend.
Saturday, January 19, 2019
Community Pride & Beautification Day. Make it a day of work instead of a day of rest. Best Start Watts and Willowbrook Community Partnership come together to remember King’s legacy through service. From volunteers will work together “to create cleaner and safer communities in Watts.” Meet up at 8 AM at George Washington Carver Park 1400 East 118th St., Willowbrook. Breakfast and lunch will be provided for everyone who registers here.
Peace & Unity Parade and Celebration. This year’s theme is “Walk the Talk.” The 31st annual Long Beach Parade starts at Anaheim St. and MLK Jr. Avenue at 10:30 AM and culminates with a festival at King Park 1950 Lemon Ave., Long Beach from noon until 5 p.m. The festival includes food, games, music, and other festivities in honor of the park’s namesake. [The site’s page is broken]. If you would like to join the LGBTQ Center of Long Beach and march in the parade, meet at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. and 10th St at 9:30am. The Center is parade entry #67.
Kingfest 2019 at Market Street. At 9 AM the birthday of Dr. King will be observed with an Ecumenical service. From 11 AM until 5 PM the City of Inglewood will be blocking off North Market Street from Florence on the North to Manchester, then Manchester to Kelso. “The hottest street festival of the season” will feature food trucks, exhibit booths, a kids zone, a classic car show and a live concert brought to you by Hannibal Media Group and hosted by radio personality Don Amiche. All ages.
Monday, January 21, 2019
The 34th Annual Kingdom Day Parade in South LA features floats, celebrities, beauty queens, bands, equestrian teams, and our favorite – drill teams. This year there will also be a twelve-foot tall puppet modeled on the image of the distinguished, Coretta Scott King created by Antioch College. The parade draws over 250,000 spectators each year. The 3-mile parade route starts at 10am on MLK and Western, and travels west on MLK to Crenshaw, then south on Crenshaw to Vernon. The theme this year is This year’s theme is “Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds, Healthy Democracy.” The parade is organized by the Congress Of Racial Equality of California (CORE-CA). If you would like to march in the parade, you can join the human rights group, PAN (Political Action Network).
After the parade, join the Kingdom Day Freedomfest, running from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with, food, community booths and music. The parade will be aired live on ABC 7 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
The Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration at the California African American Museum in Exposition Park takes place from 10 AM until 5 PM. A variety of interactive art installations, crafts, and MLK’s inspiring speeches and sermons make this annual event a huge draw for kids and adults alike. There will also be food trucks and a panel discussion on the next generation of activists, a musical tribute and a march through Exposition Park.
31st Annual Birthday Program. Santa Monica College and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Westside Coalition will celebrate the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with inspirational readings, speakers, music and dance. This year’s theme is “Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere.” SGI-USA World Peace Ikeda Auditorium located at 525 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica, CA. After the program, a community involvement fair will offer refreshments and informational displays at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, 101 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA.
