At a Glance
- Tens of thousands attended the newly renamed Los Angeles Official Martin Luther King Day Parade in South L.A.
- The Freedom Festival in Leimert Park and a volunteer drive at the Coliseum capped a day of service
- Dozens of additional events-from Santa Clarita to Long Beach-filled the federal holiday
- Why it matters: The region turned MLK Day into both celebration and action, from food drives to wildfire relief
Southern California marked Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday with a sweeping slate of parades, concerts, volunteer projects and educational programs stretching from the South Bay to Orange County. The flagship event-the newly rebranded Los Angeles Official Martin Luther King Day Parade-drew crowds along its traditional Western Avenue-to-Leimert Park route while simultaneous festivals and service drives urged residents to turn the holiday into tangible community support.
Parade Reborn Under New Leadership
Bakewell Media, publisher of the Los Angeles Sentinel, took the reins this year after longtime organizers Adrian Dove and the LA chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality California stepped aside. The group renamed the procession from the former “Kingdom Day Parade” and promised “a fresh vision rooted in Dr. King’s legacy of justice and joy,” according to Sophia A. Reynolds.
- Start time: 10 a.m. at Western Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
- Grand marshal: Comedian and actor Cedric The Entertainer
- Features: Floats, high-school marching bands, faith-based contingents, elected officials and community groups
- Route: Ends at Leimert Park, site of the follow-up MLK Freedom Festival
Council members Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Curren Price and Heather Hutt hosted the post-parade festival, spotlighting music from Grammy-winning Avila Brothers, a resource fair, local vendors and food trucks. Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Culver City) and state Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles) were among scheduled speakers.
A Safe-Space Conversation
The South Los Angeles Community Coalition installed “The Barbershop”-a pop-up forum modeled on the cultural role of barbershops and nail salons. Organizers said the space invited candid talks on:
- Community safety
- Affordable housing
- Economic justice
- Grass-roots solutions
The coalition also launched a community poll to catalog top concerns of South L.A. residents.
Largest Volunteer Activation at Coliseum
Nonprofit LA Works staged its MLK Day Volunteer Festival inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, billing it as “the largest activation of service event honoring Martin Luther King Jr. at a moment when the city’s need for collective action has never been greater.”
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Time | Noon-5 p.m. |
| Focus | Wildfire recovery, support for displaced families, immigrant outreach |
| Activities | Care-package assembly, educational booths, nonprofit fair, BIPOC small-business zone, live DJ |
| Tickets | Sold out; walk-ups not accepted |
Organizers encouraged residents who missed the event to “honor Dr. King’s legacy through action” by donating to wildfire-relief nonprofits or volunteering year-round.
Clothing Drive & School Makeover
**Big Sunday-the L.A.-based volunteer network-ran its 14th annual MLK Day Clothing Drive & Community Breakfast at South Park Elementary School (8510 Towne Ave.) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Goals included:
- Collecting non-perishable food for a new year-round pantry
- Gathering gently used clothing
- Beautifying campus gardens
- Leading arts-and-crafts sessions plus a collaborative MLK mosaic
County-Wide Observances
Exposition Park
The California African American Museum hosted a free King Day program (10 a.m.-5 p.m.) with:
- Book-drive benefiting the Little Free Library at the Crenshaw Family YMCA
- Faux stained-glass art workshop
- MLK study group
- Closing concert by the Inner City Youth Orchestra of LA
Santa Clarita
A Unity Walk started at 9 a.m. from Central Park (27150 Bouquet Canyon Road). Mayor Laurene Weste offered remarks near the public-art sculpture “When Cloud Met a Cloud.”
Santa Monica
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Westside Coalition held its 41st annual celebration at John Adams Middle School Performing Arts Center (2425 16th St.). Theme: “Injustice Anywhere Is a Threat to Justice Everywhere.” Keynote: Emmy-winning producer Bonnie Boswell of PBS’s Bonnie Boswell Reports.
Cerritos
City officials convened a ceremony at 10 a.m. inside the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (18000 Park Plaza Drive), featuring council remarks, guest speakers, poetry and live music.
Long Beach
The Queen Mary (1126 Queens Highway) screened Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and hosted a student speech-writing contest plus a lecture series from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Downtown L.A.
Archbishop José H. Gómez celebrated a 3 p.m. Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, honoring King’s life and moral teachings.
Irvine
Pretend City Children’s Museum (29 Hubble) guided children through activities highlighting Black leaders, artists and innovators from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Santa Ana
Reconcile Church Collective welcomed residents to an Orange County MLK Breakfast at 8 a.m. (1010 W. 17th St.).
Holiday History
Congress made Martin Luther King Jr. Day a federal holiday in 1983, with the first observance in 1986 under President Ronald Reagan. In 1994, President Bill Clinton signed legislation designating the day as a national day of service. Monday’s events coincide with the 97th anniversary of King’s birth on January 15, 1929; he was assassinated on April 4, 1968, at age 39.
Key Takeaways
- New leadership revived South L.A.’s flagship parade, drawing thousands along the traditional route.
- Service projects dominated the day, from a sold-out Coliseum volunteer festival to clothing drives and school makeovers.
- Museums, cities and faith groups county-wide added concerts, lectures and kids’ programs, reinforcing King’s call for justice and unity.
