Tampa Bay Area Plans Multiple MLK Day Celebrations
Three big parades will roll through Tampa Bay from Jan. 17-20, 2025, celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day. St. Petersburg’s Dream Big Parade is getting extra attention, with famous Hollywood producer Will Packer leading the way as grand marshal.
Downtown St. Pete buzzes with activity from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., as people line up for the main event that wraps up at Tropicana Field. “To have one of the largest parades in the United States, and to see all the people that come around just to watch this parade, just to be a part of it, it’s a great feeling to have,” said Jeffrey Copeland to Fox 13 News.
In Tampa, Les Miller heads up their noon parade kicking off at Cuscaden Park and ending at Middleton High School. Plant City rounds out the celebrations with a week-long festival, including their own parade down MLK Boulevard on January 18.
This year brings new musical groups to the streets. The Bethune-Cookman Marching Wildcats and Edward Waters University Triple Threat band will show off their skills. A special performance at Gibbs High School on January 19 brings together bands from Tuskegee, Savannah State, and Albany State.
Tampa’s Straz Center gets things started with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Arts Legacy REMIX on Jan. 17. Later that night, people will get together at the Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park for the MLK Dream Big Banquet.
Giving back to the community stays central to the celebrations. New Port Richey Public Library joins in with a volunteer fair on Jan. 18, connecting locals with nonprofit organizations.
Now in its 38th year, the St. Pete parade, run by Advantage Village Academy, has one change: They won’t be able to hold the usual after-parade family fair at Tropicana Field because of storm damage.
A parade-goer, Patrick Stewart, told Fox 13 News: “You see a lot of people out here that’s showing good signs of togetherness, and we are coming together as one.”
