Mesa is gearing up to celebrate the leadership and legacy of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with its annual parade and festival, set to take place next Monday, According to City of Mesa, the day will kick off with the Mesa-East Valley Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade from 11 a.m. until noon in downtown Mesa, followed by a community festival from noon to 4 p.m. at The Plaza at Mesa City Center. This year’s theme, “Building Bridges: Cultivating Our Community,” aims to honor Dr. King by emphasizing unity, inclusion, and community growth.
The parade is a significant local event, proudly coined as Arizona’s only MLK Parade, and will feature an array of participants that include marching bands, faith-based groups, local organizations, community leaders, and several City of Mesa departments. The parade is scheduled to start at the intersection of Center Street and MLK Way, moving south on Center Street to First Street, then heading east on First Street to Hibbert, where it will conclude. Notably, representatives from Salt River Project will act to serve as grand marshal, in recognition of their commitment to diversity and inclusion throughout the community.
Directly following the parade, the festivities continue with the Mesa-East Valley MLK Festival at The Plaza at the Mesa City Center. The festival is poised to be a hub of activity, featuring a selection of food vendors, live music, and entertainment, including interactive line dancing and a Kids Unity Corner with activities and crafts. Additionally, the ASU MIX Center will host a special screening of the movie “Selma” at 1 p.m., in conjunction with the Sidney Poitier New American Film School — a detailing of Dr. King’s pivotal march for voting rights in 1965, as per the City of Mesa…