Roads to Close for MLK Day Parade

St. Petersburg hosts one of the largest Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday parades in the nation on Monday, Jan. 21. During this year's 28th Annual MLK Drum Major for Justice National Parade, some city streets will close between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.  

The parade begins at 11 a.m. on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. St. at Third Ave. S., proceeds north to Central Ave., east along Central to Bayshore Drive and north to Fifth Ave. NE, disbanding into Vinoy and North Shore Parks.

St. Petersburg Police encourage motorists to pre-plan their travel routes and to use streets west of 16th St. After 10:30 a.m., drivers wanting to cross First Ave. N., Central Ave. or First Ave. S., are advised to use 28th St., I-275, or streets further west.

Organizers and the MLK Holiday and Legacy Association Inc. anticipate approximately 21 high school and college marching bands from throughout the southeastern U.S. to participate in the parade.

City traffic officials remind motorists and downtown visitors that parking will be restricted along the parade route beginning Sunday evening and barricade placement will begin as early as 1 a.m. on Monday morning.

The Central Avenue Trolley (CAT) will operate a slightly modified route on Monday, utilizing First Ave. N. (westbound) and Fourth Ave. N. (eastbound) to bypass the parade. Regular CAT trolley fares apply (50 cents per ride). There will be no service on Central Ave. between First St. and 16th St. until approximately 5:30 p.m. Monday and there will be no CAT service to The Pier until after the parade. In addition to Central Ave., other roads affected on the CAT trolley route during the parade include MLK/9th St., Second Ave. N. and Bayshore Drive.