MLK Day: A civil rights celebration

Related Photos

Parade route

Discussion

January 17, 2013

MLK Day: A civil rights celebration

Festivities Saturday include activities at Paul Langford Stadium for the whole family

Andrew McGee Suwannee Democrat The Suwannee Democrat Thu Jan 17, 2013, 12:46 PM EST

Live Oak — Live Oak’s 17th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration and parade will be on Saturday, Jan. 19.

The theme of the event is “Team work makes the dream work”.

Headed up by the MLK Planning Committee, their goal is to “reach out and include more of our community and to enjoy a day of family fun and fellowship with our community.”

The event has grown over the years since its inception in 1997.

“Actually it got started through the Live Oak Ministerial Alliance,” said chairperson of the MLK Planning Committee, elder Henry Smart. “And I chaired the committee, then it got bigger and we needed to spread it out, so we formed the committee separate from the Ministerial Alliance. It kind of grew.”

Line-up for the parade is at 9 a.m. and the parade begins at 10 a.m. The parade route begins at Suwannee-Hamilton Technical Center and will travel east to Ohio/MLK Avenue. The procession will then travel north, turn west onto Howard Street (US 90), south onto Houston Street where it will end at Paul Langford Stadium.

“Following the parade, we’ll go into Ebenezer Church, we have a church service,” said Smart. “We’ll turn out from the service to go to Langford Stadium and we’ll have festivities.” Smart said at the stadium, behind First Baptist Church, there will be vendors and activities for the kids. There will also be a stage for singers and performers.  Smart said that this is the first year that they’re having the outside activities. A couple of times in the past the weather was less than desirable, but the parade went on as scheduled. Smart said one year when the rain was coming down in buckets, they had to judge the floats at the Suwannee County Coliseum, so he’s hoping for a good turnout and nice weather.

Vendor stations are $25 and on a first come, first serve basis. Vendors will be responsible for providing their own tents, tables, etc. to make their station function successfully. Vendors are asked to make checks and money orders payable to the MLK Planning Committee. Also, please RSVP on or before Jan. 17 by contacting either: Elder Henry Smart at 386 209-1937; Sheryl Brown at 386 364-4024; Reverend Tommie Jefferson at 386 209-8680 or Robyne Edwards at 386 647-7356.