Music, vigil marks King's birthday

Events, including the annual parade, are scheduled for St. Petersburg.

By RYAN MALDONADO
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 20, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- He would have been 73 last week.

To honor the life and message of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., St. Petersburg will celebrate him through a prayer breakfast, a festival of bands, a parade downtown and a candlelight vigil.

"We are very much looking forward to the events being as successful as they've been in the past," said Deputy Mayor Goliath Davis III. "Like anything else, we may need a reminder and this event, and the celebration itself affords us that opportunity each year."

Among the events scheduled for today will be the 17th Annual National MLK Festival of Bands, which will feature high school marching bands scheduled to appear at the parade Monday. The bands will play at Florida Power Park, home of Al Lang Field, 230 First St. S, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children under 12.

Religious leaders will gather before the festival at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 2401 Fifth St. S, for the annual ecumenical service. The service begins at 4 p.m., and organizers welcome all faiths.

After a weekend of commemoration, the 17th annual Drum Major for Justice Parade, which will include 105 participating groups and 16 bands from all over the nation, will take to the downtown streets Monday. Organizers expect thousands to attend the parade that will begin at 1:15 p.m. at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort on Bayshore Drive and Fifth Avenue N.

"We're expecting as many or probably more people than last year in hopes that some of us will be in tune to nonviolent, peaceful co-existence," said Rhonda Jackson, who has been the parade's coordinator since it began in 1985. "I think the parade is going to be really good -- maybe one of our best."

The parade will travel south down Bayshore Drive, west on Central Avenue, then south along Dr. Martin Luther King (Ninth) Street to Tropicana Field.

St. Petersburg police have advised motorists to use streets west of downtown. Parade route streets will be closed from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Before Monday's parade, a prayer ceremony followed by a breakfast hosted by the Dr. Martin Luther King Commemorative Committee and the National Council of Negro Women will be held at the Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave. N, at 7:30 a.m. Organizers are asking for $20 donations that will go to the award scholarship fund given to two students, three MLK essay contest winners and outstanding citizens during the event.

The King Day events will be capped off by a candlelight vigil at 6 p.m. along the waterfront, near the Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive NE, in downtown. Vigilgoers are asked to bring a flashlight to participate.

Schedule of events for MLK commemoration

These St. Petersburg events celebrate the birthday of the late civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:

Interfaith Worship Service, 4 p.m. today, Trinity United Methodist Church, 2421 Fifth St. S.

Festival of Bands, 5 p.m. today, Florida Power Park, 230 First St. S. $5 adults, $3 ages 12 and under.

Leadership Awards Breakfast, 7:30 a.m. Monday, Coliseum Ballroom, 535 Fourth Ave. N. $20 per person, proceeds benefit scholarships.

Drum Major for Justice Parade, 1:15 p.m. Monday, route begins at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort, travels south along Bayshore Drive to Dr. M. L. King (Ninth) Street N, south to Third Avenue S to Tropicana Field. Call 327-0085.

Candlelight Vigil, 6 p.m. Monday, south lawn of Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive SE; procession will travel along Bayshore Drive to Demens Landing. Call 328-1769.

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