Leading up to this Monday, New Orleans will celebrate the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday with a series of free events. The 32nd annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Official March will take place on Monday, January 15, at 10 a.m. in Central City.
About the parade
In the past, the city’s official Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration and parade took place near the steps of City Hall. This year, the NOLA’s Martin Luther King Jr. Planning Commission will hold the annual ceremony at A.L. Davis Park, near the intersection of LaSalle Street and Washington Avenue. The ceremony, which is free and open to the public, will start at 9 a.m. The annual parade will follow at 10 a.m.
Rolling in tandem with the R.E.A.L’s commemorative march, this year’s parade will have several community organizations, marching bands, and dance troupes. Participants in the Martin Luther King Jr. parade will follow a 1.5-mile route that will end at Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard.
At the end of the parade, the City of New Orleans will host its inaugural Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Community Block Party along Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard. The free community event, which will have vendors and live music, will run from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Route
The parade will start at LaSalle Street and Washington Avenue and turn onto South Claiborne Avenue. It will then progress down Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard until it reaches Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard. The inaugural block party will start after the parade disbands.
How to get there
Walking, driving, and cycling are all easy ways to get to this Central City parade. It will also be a great time to try out the the city’s new bike share program. There’s a sizable Blue Bikes station near Oretha Castle Haley and Martin Luther King Jr. boulevards.
You can also take the Streetcar. The St. Charles Streetcar stops at St. Charles Avenue and Melpomene Street, which is three blocks from the end of the parade route and the inaugural block party.
- New Orleans Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Celebration [City of New Orleans]