Tampa Bay MLK Events: Parades, Breakfast, Family Festivals

TAMPA BAY, FL — The legacy of Civil Rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is honored nationally on the third Monday of every January.

Here are a few events in the Tampa Bay area paying tribute to the leader on Monday:

MLK Leadership Breakfast

The Tampa Organization of Black Affairs hosts its 44th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Breakfast Monday, 6:45 a.m., at Marriott Tampa Water Street. The event, which usually draws more than 1,000 people, honors the principles espoused by Dr. King and fosters positive community relations.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

The city of Clearwater and the NAACP Clearwater Upper Pinellas County Branch present the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration Monday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the North Greenwood Recreation Center. Activities include breakfast, a march, keynote speakers, bands and more.

MLK Dream Big Parade

This St. Petersburg parade runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday and travels west on 1st Avenue S. from 3rd Street S. to 16th Street S, then south on 16th Street to 3rd Avenue S.
Attorney James Flynn, who has supported the parade and other MLK festivities for the last seven years, will serve as the grand marshal.

Dr. Martin Luther King Day Parade

Tampa’s annual MLK Day parade, which has a theme of “Passing the Torch” this year, kicks off Monday at noon and will be led by grand marshal Gwen Miller, former chair of the Tampa City Council and the first African American woman elected to the council.

Headlining the parade will be the renowned bands from Florida A&M University, Bethune-Cookman University, and Edward Waters University, alongside more than 100 participating groups.

The parade begins at North 15th Street and East 21st Avenue, and ends at North 22nd Street and East Osborne Avenue.

MLK Family Fun Day

Following St. Petersburg’s MLK parade, this family fun day takes place Monday from 2:30 to 6 p.m. in Lot #4 at Tropicana Field.

This event, dedicated to celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and promoting community unity and joy, offers various kid-friendly carnival rides suitable for all ages, a wide array of delicious foods from some of the best local vendors, a lineup of live performances and even health checkups.

Know of an event honoring MLK Day Monday? Email Tiffany.Razzano@Patch.com.