DENVER — Monday's frigid conditions won't stop Denver's annual tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. from happening, but organizers say attendees should be ready for the cold and they're making some minor changes to the event.
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Colorado Holiday Commission said its 2024 Marade is still scheduled on Monday.
Monday's high temperature is expected to be in the single digits, prompting organizers to issue a cold weather advisory for the event. Because of the weather conditions, the Commission is discouraging the attendance of seniors, small children and people with health problems.
Programs have been shortened to limit exposure time and there will be a 30-minute delay to the beginning of the event. The program at City Park will now begin at 10 a.m. The Marade proceeds down East Colfax Avenue and ends at Civic Center Park.
Attendees are encouraged to come prepared for the extreme cold weather conditions.
Organizers will also open two warming centers for Marade participants beginning at 10 a.m. Monday at the Carla Madison Recreation Center and at Church in the City.
Marade warming centers
- Carla Madison Recreation Center
- 401 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206
- Church in the City
- 1580 N Gaylord St, Denver, CO 80206
Updates on the Marade will be provided on the Commission's website and Facebook page.
Coined by former state Representative Wilma Webb, the word 'Marade' is a combination of a march and a parade. It's meant to celebrate the victories achieved in combating injustices from the past while marching non-violently to confront injustices in the future.
At its inaugural event in January 1986, the Marade drew an estimated 15,000 people. With the exception of Atlanta, Dr. King's birthplace, Denver's Marade is the largest celebration in the country. Since then, an average of 60,000 people attend the event every year.
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