Area To Celebrate MLK’s Legacy
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Community members will come together this weekend and on Monday, January 19, as they remember the legacy left behind by the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Celebrations will kick off in Vidalia on Sunday, January 18, as Guest Speaker Pastor Ronald Miller leads a worship service at Harvest Time Faith Center, located at 506 1st Avenue in Vidalia. The service will begin at 5 p.m.
The annual Community Men In Action Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade will hit the streets of Vidalia at 11 a.m. on Monday, January 19. The parade will travel down U.S. Highway 280, and will follow the same route as the Vidalia Christmas Parade.
The festivities will continue in Vidalia at the Celebration in the Park, where community speakers, musicians, food vendors, and informational booths come together to unite the community and continue the legacy of togetherness that King embodied. This free event will be held from 12 p.m. until 3 p.m. at Ronnie A. Dixon City Park in Vidalia.
Montgomery County citizens will also celebrate King’s legacy, as the Montgomery County Enrichment Association hosts a parade/march and ceremony.
The parade/march will begin at 900 M.L. King Jr. Drive in Ailey (right in front of the Montgomery County Elementary School) and will travel to the Montgomery County Courthouse. Groups will begin traveling down the route at 2 p.m., with longtime Montgomery County Citizen Zellene Robinson leading the charge as the Grand Marshal.
Once all parade floats and participants reach the Montgomery County Courthouse Square, a ceremony will be held to remember the work of King. Sarah Jones will serve as the Mistress of Ceremonies, while Precious Sneed delivers a keynote address. J’Lan Day and the Uvalda Community Choir will also perform in honor of the occasion.
Local vendors will also be set up at the Courthouse Square to sell their wares. Actor Travis Love – a Montgomery County native known for his roles in The Walking Dead and Black Panther – will host a meet and greet along the Square. Local author Ashton Bland will also be meeting community members and showcasing his book, Silent Night, as the community enjoys a time of fellowship and unity.
The Montgomery County Enrichment Association is continuing to accept registration for vendors, volunteers, or parade participants. To sign up, call Ronald Livingston at (478) 290-2225.
