MLK Parade, program set for Jan. 13
The theme for this year’s Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade is “A Celebration for the Whole Community” which emphasizes inclusivity, encouraging everyone, regardless of their background or race to join the festivities.
“Every year I try to do something to get everybody involved,” said Eve Tisdale, parade coordinator.
“I want people to understand that Dr. King was for all people, and this is not just a black thing. It’s so important for the whole community to come together and celebrate. We really need to keep the dream alive.”
The MLK parade is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 13., with the lineup starting at 10 a.m., and the parade beginning at 11 a.m. It will follow the exact same route as the Philadelphia Christmas Parade, which starts on Poplar Avenue, comes up Main Street, takes a right by the Justice Court on Byrd, takes another right onto Beacon Street, a left by the Busy Bee Suites, another left on Myrtle, and then back onto Byrd Ave. It ends in the Philadelphia High School parking lot.
Multiple bands are taking part in the parade, including Philadelphia High School and Neshoba Central, East Central Community College, Canton High School, and Velma Jackson as well as school organization participants including the Choctaw Indian princess, homecoming courts, beauty & beaus from Tucker Elementary, junior and senior Miss Black Neshoba County, and also churches and community entrants as well.
Tim Moore of the Community Development Partnership is taking on the role of Grand Marshal.
Local businesses, such as Beck’s Funeral Home and The Citizen’s Bank and others are supporters.
Following the parade, Tisdale and the annual MLK Banquet is set for 6:30 p.m. in the Senior Citizens Center at Northside Park.
Tickets for the banquet, featuring guest speaker Dr. Julia Riley, are $15.
“The banquet is where high school seniors from all three local schools have the opportunity to do an essay and present before the audience,” Tisdale said. “This year the essay was on Dr. King’s sermon about the drum major instinct and what they as individuals can do to bring about love, peace, and justice.”
The committee will recognize five students from Philadelphia High School who participated in the essay contest and will be awarding college scholarships to each.
The deadline for parade submissions was Jan. 8. There is a $35 fee for paying participants and no charge for public school participants. Contact Tisdale at (601) 479-1370 for more information.
“Even if you don’t have the $35 to participate, by all means just come on anyway and be a part of it,” Tisdale said. “Come represent and let people know that you support this one hundred percent.”