Rain or shine, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Committee of Gardena will present the 30th annual King Day Parade beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 18. The parade will make its traditional excursion through parts of the city starting at on the corner of Van Ness and Marine avenues.
This year will honor celebrity grand marshals, the Zoe Hendrix, whois best known for playing Malcolm- Jamal Warner's daughter, "Alexis," on the BET comedy “Reed Between the Lines.”
Rain or shine, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Committee of Gardena will present the 30th annual King Day Parade beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 18. The parade will make its traditional excursion through parts of the city starting at on the corner of Van Ness and Marine avenues.
This year will honor celebrity grand marshals, the Zoe Hendrix, whois best known for playing Malcolm- Jamal Warner's daughter, "Alexis," on the BET comedy “Reed Between the Lines.”
Zoe, 11, co-starred on Nickelodeon's “Sam & Cat,” and guest starred on the popular Disney XD series Mighty Med.
The parade will also have a Community Grand Marshal, Gary Kohatsu, editor of the Gardena Valley News. Kohatsu grew up in the South Bay and graduated from Nathaniel Narbonne High School in Harbor City. He has worked for the Gardena Valley News almost 25 years, and has been the paper’s editor since 1991.
Parade officials have a long list of big-name celebrities and personalities to serve as grand marshal over the years.
“We have maintained a proud tradition and consistent line up of distinguished Grand Marshals,” a parade official said. Recent participants have included, the"Fastest Woman Alive," OlympianCarmelita Jeter, aka “JET”(2012 London Olympics), Olympian Marilyn White– (1964 Tokyo Olympics), Omar Miller Benson (CSI Miami), Tammi Mac and Don Amichie(KJLH Radio) Nautica De la Cruz (KJLH Radio.
Other entries include local and state dignitaries, local high, middle school and elementary school bands and drill teams and a variety of civic and community clubs and organizations.
Following the parade will be a short stage presentation and special recognitions.
The Parade will start promptly at 10 a.m. leaving from Marine Avenue and Van Ness Avenue, heading North on Van Ness to 132nd Street, turning right on 132nd Street (Rowley Park).
Also, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Committee will present the 41st annual Youth Night Program at 7 p.m. Friday, January 17 at the Nakaoka Community Center, 1670 W. 162nd St., Gardena. The program is free and will feature local youth talent and the presentation of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay winners.
“We are also honored to have Rev. Stephen Dyson, pastor (Member of the Gardena Recreation Youth Sports Advisory Board) of Maranatha Community Church along with his choir.
Those with questions regarding the parade can call the City of Gardena Recreation Division at 310-217-9537. “We look forward to see you on the parade route,” the official said.
