The 37th Annual Kingdom Day Parade will be held on Monday, June 20 at 10 a.m. The three-mile parade route begins at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard & Western Avenue, proceeds west to Crenshaw Boulevard, and then south to Vernon Avenue, disbanding at Leimert Park.
The annual celebration was postponed in January due to a spike in COVID-19 cases. Organizers will welcome back all the floats, event participants, and Angelinos who come out and support the parade each year.
The celebration will be led by Rep. Karen Bass (CA-37) as the 2022 Grand Marshal. “Healing America” is the theme of this year’s parade, as parade organizers hope to send a strong message of unity, which embodies all that King stood for.
Parade organizers welcome back presenting sponsor, Blue Shield of California, and media partner, ABC-7 which will again broadcast the parade live from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to millions of viewers.
The Kingdom Day Parade honors the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and has grown from its humble beginnings into the largest and longest running birthday celebration of Dr. King, Jr. in the nation.
2022 would have been King’s 93rd birthday. The unique purpose of this Parade is celebrated each year on the only Holiday whose sole purpose is to embrace all segments or identities in our democracy and the world. It is dedicated to the conscious aggressive non-violent pursuit of King’s noble goals.
The parade was conceived more than 37 years ago as a small neighborhood tribute to the life, work, dream, and spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Since its inception, Stevie Wonder completed a successful nationwide effort that resulted in King’s birthday becoming a National Holiday, on the third Monday in January every year.
It was the untimely death of the original founder Larry Grant seven years ago, that Dr. Adrian Dove, the chairman of the Parade’s Organizing Sponsor (CORE-CA), stepped forward and has continued management of the Parade with the help of a team of volunteers and professional staff.
To become a participant, volunteer, sponsor or for more information, visit www.kingdomdayparade.org.
