Black excellence and community pride were on full display at the 38th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and Celebration in Central Long Beach on Saturday, Jan. 17.
Hundreds converged along the parade route, which kicked off from the intersection of MLK Avenue and Anaheim Street, to honor and celebrate the legacy of the trailblazing activist who played a key role in driving the civil rights movement of the 1960s forward.
The parade featured local businesses, community organizations, dance and musical performances and more. Attendees cheered and waved as those in the parade walked by.
The annual event honors and keeps alive the many values of King through arts, remembrance and meaningful perspectives, according to city officials, and it has become a longstanding tradition that also celebrates the enduring Black history and strength of Central Long Beach, as well as its diverse community.
Members of the African American Cultural Center of Long Beach perform during the 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, January 17, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Mayor Rex Richardson and his Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity brothers pose for a photograph following the 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, January 17, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Grand Marshal Mariko Kahn waves to the audience during the 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, January 17, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, January 17, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Woodrow Wilson High School performs in the 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, January 17, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Members of the African American Cultural Center of Long Beach perform during the 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, January 17, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Grand Marshal Bruce Brown gestures to the audience during the 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, January 17, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Coach Ashley Spidle walks with the Burbank Wrap Stars in the 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, January 17, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, January 17, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Long Beach Polytechnic High School kicks off the 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, January 17, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Long Beach Polytechnic High School Band performs in the 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, January 17, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
From left, Vice Mayor Roberto Uranga and Tonia Reyes Uranga wave to the crowd during the 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, January 17, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, January 17, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Long Beach Polytechnic High School starts off the 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, January 17, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Mayor Rex Richardson waves to the audience during the 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, January 17, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The Wilson High School Marching Band performs during the 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, January 17, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
An attendee of the 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, January 17, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Ana Espinoza cheers during the 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, January 17, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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Members of the African American Cultural Center of Long Beach perform during the 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Long Beach on Saturday, January 17, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
This year’s grand marshals for the parade were nominated by the community and selected by the MLK Advisory Committee, officials said.
The grand marshals, recognized for their contributions to Long Beach, included Bruce Brown, a community leader and recreation specialist with the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department; Local Hearts Foundation founder Tito Rodriguez; community leader and event producer Kimberly Benoit; community leader Erroll Parker, the cofounder of the African American Cultural Center of Long Beach; Equity and Human Relations Commissioner Robbie N. Butler; grassroots organization The SIX; Darick Simpson, president of the Miller Foundation; Asian and Pacific Islander community leader Mariko Kahn; and Vice Mayor Roberto Uranga and the Honorable Tonia Reyes Uranga.
After the parade, a celebration at Martin Luther King Jr. Park was held, which had live entertainment, a kids zone, food and merchandise vendors, and more. There was a performance by Gravity Dance Company, poem readings by the winners of the student poetry contest, and musical performances by DeMay, Kristien Owens and Anita Wilson.
The 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and Celebration was presented by the city and Sixth District Councilmember Suely Saro, with additional support from the Port of Long Beach; Vice Mayor Roberto Uranga; Councilmembers Mary Zendejas, Cindy Allen, Kristina Duggan, Megan Kerr, Tunua Thrask-Ntuk, and Joni Ricks-Oddie; Long Beach Airport, and many others, according to a press release.