SE Valley Times

Mesa will honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a parade and festival on Monday, January 20, marking MLK Day. The events will start with the annual Mesa-East Valley Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in downtown Mesa and continue with a community festival from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at The Plaza at Mesa City Center, located at 56 E. Main St.

This year's theme is "Building Bridges: Cultivating Our Community," which emphasizes unity, inclusion, and community growth in honor of Dr. King's legacy.

Arizona's only MLK Parade will begin at the intersection of Center Street and MLK Way, proceed south on Center Street to First Street, then east on First Street to Hibbert where it concludes. Participants include marching bands, faith-based organizations, local groups, community leaders, elected officials, and several City of Mesa departments. Representatives from Salt River Project will serve as grand marshals for their commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Following the parade is the Mesa-East Valley MLK Festival at The Plaza at Mesa City Center from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., featuring food vendors, live music, interactive line dancing, a Kids Unity Corner with activities and crafts, and a blood drive by Vitalant. Additionally, the movie "Selma" will be shown at 1 p.m. inside the ASU MIX Center in partnership with the Sidney Poitier New American Film School.

Two downtown museums will offer half-price admission on MLK Day: the Arizona Museum of Natural History from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the i.d.e.a Museum from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Residents near the parade route or attending should note street closures including:

- From 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.: First Street (Center Street to Mesa Drive), Centennial Way (Pepper Place to First Street), Pasadena (at First Street), Hibbert (Pepper Place to First Street), Hibbert (Second Street to Third Place), Wilbur (at First Street), Pomeroy (Pepper Place to First Street).

- From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Center Street (University Drive to Pepper Place), Third Place (Center Street to Drew Street), MLK Way (Center Street to Centennial Way), Second Street (at Center Street).

- From 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Pepper Place (Center Street to Centennial Way).

The parade route will reopen by 2 p.m., while adjacent streets will reopen as traffic control is removed by authorities.

Bus and light rail services are scheduled for weekdays; however, Downtown Buzz won't serve Center Street between Main Street and University Drive from 5 a.m. until 2 p.m.

All events are organized by the Mesa-East Valley MLK Committee alongside partners such as the City of Mesa and various sponsors including Amazon and SRP among others.

The annual celebrations began after residents voted in favor of establishing this citywide holiday in recognition of Dr. King's leadership back in 1996.

For more information about these events visit the Mesa-East Valley MLK website.