City of Ocoee to hold Martin Luther King Jr. parade Monday

Participants gather at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial during the Realize the Dream Rally for the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington August 24, 2013. Thousands of marchers were expected in Washington, D.C. on Saturday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech and to urge action on jobs, voting rights and gun violence. REUTERS/James Lawler Duggan

By Brittany Caldwell

OCOEE, Fla. — Guests can honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy next week with the return of a special event.

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The city of Ocoee will hold its MLK parade and celebration on Monday, Jan. 16.

This event will be held for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Read: Orlando honors legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with 2023 events

WFTV anchor Daralene Jones will be the keynote speaker.

The parade begins at 10 a.m. at Citrus Elementary School and will end at the parking lot of the West Oaks Mall on Clark Road.

Read: Orlando leaders honor legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with holiday week proclamation

There will also be a celebration for guests to enjoy at the West Oaks Mall food court at 11 a.m.

The celebration will include:

  • Presenting of the colors by the Ocoee High School JROTC
  • Sherrí Gladney will sing the national anthem
  • Sixth grader Hailey Smith will read her award-winning essay from the Ocoee Black History Month Essay Contest

For more events in Central Florida visit our event calendar here.

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