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Community Feb 05, 2019
Buffalo solider at the Black history parade- Photo by Terry Miller/ Beacon Media News
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Parade participant in the marching band at the Black History Parade– Photo by Terry Miller/ Beacon Media News
Celebrate black history, culture and achievements at Pasadena’s 37th annual Black History Parade and Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16. Join Celebrity Grand Marshal Kaj Goldberg, KTLA weatherman and Pasadena resident, at this festive celebration, which includes one of the biggest and longest-running black history parades in California. More than 80 entries will be featured in the parade, with participants traveling from as far as Bakersfield and San Diego. This year’s event features the Wilson Middle School Drum Corps, Miss Black Pasadena, the Wells Fargo Stage Coach, Buffalo Soldiers, the Pasadena City College Band and Herald Trumpeters, musicians, dancers, equestrians, local youth groups, dignitaries, community leaders, and vintage and custom cars. Bring family and friends to enjoy upbeat parade performances and plenty of free post-parade fun and entertainment. This year’s theme is “For the Culture – Celebrating Our Excellence.”
The parade begins at 10 a.m. at Metropolitan Baptist Church on Fair Oaks Avenue and Figueroa Street in Altadena; then heads south on Fair Oaks Avenue before ending at Pasadena’s Robinson Park, 1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave., where the festival takes place from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the north side of the park. The newly renovated, state-of-the-art Robinson Park Recreation Center will be open during the festival as well.
The Pasadena Black history parade and float participants – Photo by Terry Miller/ Beacon Media News
Kaj Goldberg, this year’s Celebrity Grand Marshal, is predicting perfect parade weather! Celebrity guests also include actors Jackie Long and Chantal Lashon, former NBA player Chris Mills, guest appearances by cheerleaders from the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Lakers, hip-hop artist Yo-Yo and local R&B group Troop. Parade dignitaries also include Community Grand Marshal Betty J. Ford, an accomplished musician and poet, and Youth Grand Marshal Ashley Symone Hackett, member of the Tournament of Roses 2019 Royal Court. Donnetha A. Wallace, teacher and community leader, and Denise Houlemard-Jones, community advocate and businesswoman, are this year’s Community Service Award winners and will be celebrated in the parade as well.
The festival begins immediately after the parade and concludes at 4 p.m. The festival features live entertainment for all ages, food for purchase, an exciting meet-and-greet with Miss Black Pasadena, the Power 106 Street Team, free informational booths and a children’s zone jam packed with fun, free activities. The event is known for a variety of great food available for purchase, including delicious barbecue, chicken and fish dinners, grilled burgers and hot dogs, and fun goodies like kettle corn, lemonade, pies, cakes and ice cream. New this year is a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) College Fair featuring the “Divine Nine,” a network of African American fraternities and sororities.
Buffalo solider at the Black history parade- Photo by Terry Miller/ Beacon Media News
The parade will be recorded in its entirety by Pasadena Media, one of the event sponsors, and will air on both KPAS, the City government TV station, and Arroyo, the Pasadena community public channel. Visit pasadenamedia.tv for broadcast times.
Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to navigate around street closures, find parking and claim their favorite viewing spots along the parade route. Free parking will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis at Calvary Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, 135 Glorieta St., Pasadena.
The following streets will be closed for the parade and festival at the times listed below:
- Hammond Street, between Fair Oaks Avenue and Morton Avenue, 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Morton Avenue, between Mountain Street and Woodbury Road, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Fair Oaks Avenue, between Woodbury Road and Harriet Street, 7 a.m.-noon
- Mountain Street, between Raymond Avenue and Sunset Street, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
- Fair Oaks Avenue between Mountain Street and Woodbury Road, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Motorists are advised to use caution while driving through the area.
The 2019 parade and festival are sponsored by Wells Fargo, Pasadena Tournament of Roses, Wescom Credit Union, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger and Pasadena City College. Media sponsors are the Pasadena Journal, Pasadena Black Pages and Pasadena Media. Black history events are organized by the Department of Human Services and Recreation and the volunteer Black History Parade and Festival Planning Committee. A full list of planned events can be viewed here. For more information about the parade and festival, contact the Jackie Robinson Community Center at (626) 744-7300.
