March On, Harlem: Annual African American Day Parade Is This Weekend

HARLEM, NY – There’s a party in Harlem this weekend, and everybody’s invited.

The 55th annual African American Day Parade is Sunday. The festivities open with a pre-parade show at 11 a.m. on 125th Street between Lenox Avenue and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard.

The main event begins at 12:30 p.m.

The parade forms on Adam Clayton Powell at West 111th Street, and floats, marchers, and more head north on Adam Clayton Powell toward 136th Street, where the route ends.

This year’s theme?

“Good Leaders = Good Government..VOTE!”

Grand marshals are New York State Attorney General Letitia James, Lieutenant Gov. of New York Antonio Delgado, New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, and New York State Sen. Cordell Cleare.

Marshals are Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, New York City Council Member Yusef Salaam, and New York State Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman.

The first African American Day Parade was held in 1969, one year after the passage of the Civil Rights Act. Grand Marshals that year were the man for whom 7th Avenue was renamed, then-Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr., and Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to Congress.

Over the years, other Grand Marshals have included Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Jesse Jackson, former New York City Mayor David Dinkins, and Congressman Charles Rangel, to name a few.

If you attend, expect floats, marching bands, dancing, and a whole lot of celebration.