MARK YOUR CALENDARS: January 15 - 18 2010

The Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday & Legacy Association, Inc. proudly presents the following events commemorating the 25th Annual MLK Drum Major for Justice Commemoration:

Friday, January 15, 2010
Awards Banquet
Hilton
333 First Street South
St. Petersburg, FL
Keynote Speaker: Cleo Fields
Emcee: ABC Action News' Deiah Riley

Sunday, January 17, 2010
Natl. Battle of the Bands & Drumline Extravaganza
6:15pm
Tropicana Field
St. Petersburg

Monday, January 18, 2010
MLK National Parade - St. Pete, FL
NEW START TIME: 11AM
Third Avenue South & MLK Street to Central Avenue/
Bayshore Drive to 5th Avenue NE
Parade Live Coverage from Noon - 1pm on ABC Action News @ Noon

Parade Coverage Hosts: ABC Action News Anchors Dan Shaffer & Deiah Riley, Actor & Commentator Clifton Davis, and WFTS TV Director of Community Affairs Lissette Campos w/Positively Tampa Bay!

Additional MLK Commemorative Events sponsored by the City of St. Petersburg:

Thursday, January 14, 2010
High School Essay Contest Finals
7pm
Enoch Davis Center
1111 18th Avenue South
St. Petersburg

Sunday, January 17, 2010
Ecumenical Service
4pm
Location & speakers: to be announced

Monday, January 18, 2010
MLK Day Leadership Awards Breakfast
7:30am
Coliseum Ballroom
535 Fourth Avenue North
St. Petersburg

Candlelight Vigil - date & time to be announced.

For more information, visit www.MLKNationalParade.org and/or www.StPete.org

History:
The first MLK Jr. celebration ocurred in St. Pete in 1986, historically beginning in the Gas  Plant area. The original parade route began on 3rd avenue south, proceeded south on 9th street and ended at Bartlett Park. Each year, the celebration has grown in both size and popularity. The parade was moved to the downtown St. Pete area in 1990 and now starts at 3rd Avenue South and MLK Street. It proceeds north on MLK, east on Central Avenue, north of Bayshore Drive to 5th Avenue NE and concludes at Vinoy Park.