The 22nd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Peace & Unity Parade is set to take place this Saturday, beginning at the intersection of MLK & Anaheim around 10:30am.
The parade will proceed north on MLK, east on 19th Street and north on Lemon to arrive at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park.
One of the city’s most vibrant and well-attended events each year, the parade will once again weave through the 6th District and feature a slew of Long Beach’s community organizations, children’s groups and tons of entertainment. The parade will end with a festival and celebration that includes food and a carnival at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park on 1950 Lemon Avenue.
The theme of this year’s celebration is “Strength To Love,” the title of Dr. King’s 1960 book.
The office of Councilmember Dee Andrews has also announced new additions to the popular “Dreamland” portion of the post-parade celebration, where the north end of King Park is transformed into a carnival-like atmosphere for kids to enjoy and learn about Dr. King’s message. This year, “Dreamland” – so named for Dr. King’s infamous “I Have A Dream” speech – will include free rides, arts & crafts, face painting, healthy snacks and more for children aged 5-12 years.
There will also be several speakers, live music and a wide variety of foods for sale.