Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a holiday in the United States of America set aside to celebrate the life of civil rights activist and clergyman Dr. Martin Luther King.
Observed on the third Monday of January every year, the holiday features several events and festivities across US states and cities commemorating the legacy of Reverend King. One city in America where celebrations are especially memorable is Houston, Texas.
If you’ve been in Houston long enough, you’ve probably experienced the enthralling sights and sounds of the celebrations, particularly at the annual Martin Luther King Parade in Downtown Houston.
This article will take you through the highlights of this year’s parade and other memorable ways you can celebrate MLK week in Houston.
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The Martin Luther King Day Parade 2022
The Martin Luther King Day Parade in Houston is an annual event held in downtown Houston organized by the Black Heritage Society Organization. The parade is often a combination of various art displays and music performances alongside several kids and family-friendly activities.
The Martin Luther King Parade 2022 was held on Monday, 17 January 2022. This year’s parade, the 44th edition, kickstarted at 10 AM, with Texas Southern University’s Ocean of Soul band opening the festivities.
Vanessa E. Wyche, the NASA’s Johnson Space Center director, served as the parade’s grand marshal. Claude Cummings, Jr, Gilbert Andrew Garcia, and Al Kashani served as co-grand marshals.
As part of the celebrations, the city of Houston honored African-American astronauts who have and will journey to space as part of their service to their country.
Celebrating Martin Luther King Day in Houston: Fun Activities to Enjoy
Aside from the yearly Martin Luther King Day Parade in downtown Houston, there are several other events and attractions in Houston you can participate in to celebrate Reverend King. If you’re new in Houston, here are some of our favorite celebrations to mark the day:
The MLK Grande Parade
The MLK Grande Parade is another multicultural parade organized in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King.
Typically held in Midtown Houston, this year’s event (the 28th edition) featured 300 performance groups, including about 30 marching bands from different parts of the United States and the United States Air Force Presidential Honor Guard.
You might confuse the Grande Parade with the Martin Luther King Parade in Downtown Houston if you’re new to Houston. However, both are separate celebrations, even though they’re for the same purpose.
The Martin Luther King Parade in Downtown Houston is the official parade celebrating the civil rights icon in Houston, Texas. It was founded in 1978 by civil rights activist Ovide Duncantell.
In 2018, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner named it the official MLK parade in Houston.
On the other hand, the Martin Luther King Grande Parade is a celebratory event organized by the MLK Parade Foundation in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King.
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Scholarship Breakfast
While not featuring the colorful festivities of the different Martin Luther King parades, the MLK Memorial Scholarship Breakfast is another thrilling event in Houston held in honor of one of America’s greatest civil rights advocates.
The annual memorial breakfast, organized by the Greater Houston Frontiers Club, is a fundraiser, with proceeds supporting community service, educational scholarships, and diversity celebrations.
This year’s edition held on 17 January 2022. If you missed it, you could look forward to being a participant next year.
MLK Day 24 Hour Rebuild
Dr. Martin Luther King spent his life serving others. It comes as no surprise that several of the events held in his honor feature community service and volunteering, and the MLK 24 Hour Rebuild is one of those events.
Put together by SBP Houston; the 24 Hour Rebuild allows Houston locals to help reconstruct local shelters, children’s schools, or neighboring houses.
You don’t need to have any construction experience to participate, and the host organization provides all the tools necessary for the rebuild.
The Houston MLK Festival
The Houston MLK Festival begins right after the Martin Luther King Parade in Downtown Houston.
A free-for-all event, the festival features musical performances, marketing booths, art displays, craft vendors, and fun activities for kids. The MLK Festival is one of the many ways to enjoy the cultural diversity of the Houston Metro Area.
Martin Luther King Day Celebration At Children’s Museum Houston
In its 26th year, the MLK Day Celebration at the Children’s Museum in Houston is an opportunity for Houston’s kids to celebrate the civil rights icon and learn about America’s history.
The museum features several colorful exhibitions and exciting bilingual activities to give your kids the ultimate MLK Day experience.
MLK Jr Dream Catcher Bike Ride
If you enjoy biking, then here’s an opportunity to celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King with your favorite outdoor activity.
The MLK Jr Dream Catcher Bike Ride is an 18-mile ride around the different locations that Martin Luther King Jr visited during his last trip to Houston, Texas.
With the maximum speed of 15 mph, you can come along with a friend and enjoy some banter as you take in the historic scenes of MLK’s last visit to Texas’ largest city.
Conclusion
Houston is one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas, thanks to a thriving job market, low cost of living, and the countless social and cultural activities to enjoy.
If you’re planning to move to a new city in the US, Houston is a great choice to consider. But finding and buying a home in a new city (especially one as big as Houston) can often be challenging.
If you’re house-hunting in Houston, Texas, and feeling burnout from the search, consider reaching out to Realized Properties.
Based in Houston, Realized Properties helps Houston home buyers and sellers find, buy, and sell their homes without the strains that come with navigating the real estate market.
Why do it all on your own when you can have a team of experts take the burden off your back?
