St. Petersburg, FL – The City of St. Petersburg is gearing up for a weekend-long celebration to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The city will be hosting a series of shows, performances, and activities that are both exciting and family-friendly.
In commemoration of Dr. King’s dream for a better tomorrow, the city is encouraging the community to “dream big” while honoring his legacy. To find out how to participate, visit the website www.stpete.org/dreambig.
The festivities kick off with the MLK Dream Big Banquet on Friday, January 12, from 7-11 p.m. The banquet will be held at the St. Petersburg Country Club, located at 2000 Country Club Way S.
On Saturday, January 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the city will be hosting a Citywide Treasure Hunt. The hunt will begin at St. Petersburg City Hall, located at 175 5th St. N.
Music lovers can look forward to the MLK Band Showcase on Sunday, January 14, from 6-8:30 p.m. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the showcase will take place at Lakewood High School, located at 1400 54th Ave. S.
The highlight of the weekend will be the MLK Dream Big Parade on Monday, January 15, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The parade route starts on 1st Ave. S from 3rd St. S to 16th St. S, and then continues south on 16th St. to 3rd Ave. S. It is expected to draw large crowds, so visitors are advised to plan accordingly and leave early to account for traffic and find parking.
In addition to the parade, there will also be a Family Fun Day on Monday, January 15, from 2:30-6 p.m. The event will be held at Tropicana Field Lot #4, located at 198 17th St. S.
For more information about the weekend’s events, visit the website mlkdreambig.com.
As downtown St. Petersburg is expected to be busy during the celebrations, organizers have provided some tips for attendees. Visitors are encouraged to find downtown parking locations at www.stpete.org/parking. Please note that access to the SouthCore Parking Garage will be moved to 2nd St. S, on the north side of 1st Ave. S on January 15 for the parade.
Parking will be free at Tropicana Field on January 15 for the parade, but access to Lot 5 will not be allowed once the bicycle racks are in place at around 9 a.m. Visitors are also advised to consider using ride-share services or bike and scooter shares.
To make transportation easier, the SunRunner and PSTA Buses will be available. However, please note that the SunRunner will be rerouted during the parade to Central Ave. More information can be found at www.PSTA.net.
To accommodate the parade setup, certain roads will be closed starting Monday, January 15 at 8 a.m. These include Central Ave. from Bayshore Dr. to Beach Dr., 1st Ave. S from 3rd St. S to Bayshore Dr. SE, and Bayshore Dr. SE from Central Ave. to 5th Ave. S.
Additional road closures will take effect at 10:30 a.m. for the parade route. These include 1st Ave. S from 3rd St. S to 16th St. S, 16th St. S from Central Ave. to 5th Ave. S, 1st Ave. S from 16th St. S to 20th St. S, and 3rd Ave. S from 16th St. S to 19th St. S.
Finally, please be aware that certain City facilities and services will be closed on Monday, January 15, 2024, in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Residential trash and recycling collection regularly scheduled for Monday will be made on Tuesday.
For more information about holiday closures and other city services, visit the website https://www.stpete.org/holidayclosures.
The City of St. Petersburg invites everyone to come together and celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Let us honor his dream for a better world and continue to strive for equality and justice for all.
Click this link to access more information: https://www.stpete.org/news_detail_T30_R869.php
