Houston gets excited for two MLK Day parades to commemorate Dr. King

MLK Day Celebrations

Houston has had two MLK Day parades for years to commemorate Dr. King and this year is no different with the Black Heritage Society parade and the MLK Grande Parade. FOX 26’s Damali Keith reports more on the upcoming festivities.

HOUSTON – We’re headed into a long holiday weekend, one where Houstonians will honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

For decades Houston has had two MLK Day parades to commemorate Dr. King and this year is no different. “Oh my gosh, we have so many (parade and float) entries. You’d be amazed,” smiles Tony Deleon, director of the MLK Grande Parade in Houston.

“We just want Houstonians to come out and learn about history,” says Teresa Brewer, President of the Houston Black Heritage Society.

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The City of Houston is partnering with the Black Heritage Society for a downtown MLK parade starting Monday at 10 a.m. “It’s going to start at Lamar and Smith Street, and guess who’s our Grand Marshal this year? Our Grand Marshal is Mayor Sylvester Turner We also have the Rev. Dr. Derek King. He is the grandson of Dr. Martin Luther King. He is our co-marshal,” adds Brewer.

The MLK Grande Parade also begins at 10:00 a.m. Monday, but will wind through the streets of Midtown, starting at Elgin and San Jacinto. “I love Dr. King’s vision of inclusion for everyone. We have Muslims. We have blacks, Hispanics. We have colleges, high schools, dance teams,” Deleon explains.

Before the two big MLK Day parades, there will be a number of T-shirt fundraisers, a Saturday night gala and a Sunday gospel concert hosted by the Black Heritage Society. “The gospel concert starts at 4 p.m. and we have some popular Houston artists Zacardi Cortez, James Fortune,” says Brewer.

The Mayor’s Cruise will include ballerina Lauren Anderson, tennis champion Zina Garrison, retired NBA star Elvin Hayes, Texas legend Andre Johnson, Carl Lewis and WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes to name a few .

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A free children’s festival will follow the Black Heritage Society parade near City Hall. “We’ll have a voting booth so the kids can see what a voting booth looks like. We’ll have arts and crafts to explain what MLK did,” says Felicia Dugas with the Black Heritage Society .

“There are also citywide celebrations. Each neighborhood might have a little parade, but that’s okay. As long as we’re celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King,” smiles Deleon.

Click here for more information on the MLK Grande Parade and click here for more information on the Black Heritage Parade.