PHOTOS: Leander holds inaugural MLK Day parade, festival

Hundreds of people gathered in Leander Jan. 17 for the city’s inaugural Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade and Street Festival.

The event began with a community parade of local groups, LISD students and elected officials. Then, a series of speeches and performances were held in the Old Town Leander stage area. The city and Leander ISD also partnered for a student essay contest.

Council Member Na’Cole Thompson, who led the planning of the event and served as the grand marshal, said after taking office in June 2021 she made it a priority to create an MLK Day event in Leander after participating in Austin’s MLK Jr. Day event for years.

“Our community is changing. We’re way more diverse than we had ever been, and I know that there’s an appetite for something that brings people together rather than dividing us apart,” Thompson said.

Thompson contacted city department heads and put together a 16-member planning committee to plan talent, marketing merchandise and parade sign-ups.

The event's theme was "Community Unity-Bright & Bold." Thompson said she hoped the event served as a way to unify the divided local community on a day that celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of fighting against injustice, racism and inequity.

Thompson said the community is more alike than different and that those differences just make us unique.

The city previously held an annual Black History Month Celebration, but the event stopped after 2019 when the event’s city staff leader left the city.

Plans are also underway for events celebrating Bill Pickett during Black History Month and Juneteenth, Thompson said.