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.
For those interested in local culture and history, the Arizona Museum of Natural History and the i.d.e.a. Museum will both be offering half-price admission on MLK Day. However, residents and visitors should be aware of the several street closures during the event. Streets along the parade route, such as First Street, Centennial Way, and MLK Way will be closed but are expected to reopen by 2 p.m., while the festival area along Pepper Place is set to reopen at 7 p.m. MesaNow reports that bus and light rail service will maintain a weekday schedule, but the Downtown Buzz will not serve Center Street between Main Street and University Drive from early dawn until after the lunch hour.
As a joint effort between the Mesa-East Valley MLK Committee and the City of Mesa, the event stands as a testament to the community's values and a reflection of their commitment made in 1996, when residents voted to establish a citywide holiday in recognition of Dr. King. Corporate sponsors such as Amazon, SRP, Sundt, and Banner Health, among others, are providing support for the MLK Parade and Festival; a clear indication of the event's importance and the broad support it garners. For more information, interested individuals can visit the Mesa-East Valley MLK website.
