The Marade is one of the largest MLK Day celebrations in the United States.
DENVER — The city of Denver will once again celebrate the life and legacy of civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a march and parade, or Marade, through the streets of the city Monday morning.
Coined by Commission Chairperson 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 that had occurred, and march non-violently to always confront injustices in the future wherever they may be.
The Marade starts with an opening ceremony at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. statue at City Park at 10 a.m. Participants will then march down East Colfax Avenue at around 11:45, ending at the Colorado State Capitol building.
There are warming stations available at the Carla Madison Recreation Center, Church in the City – Beth Abraham and Pete’s Kitchen.
During the Marade, there will be closures along East Colfax Avenue. Drivers are encouraged to avoid the area.
In April 1985, Governor Dick Lamm signed legislation into law making the birth date of Dr. King a Colorado holiday.
At its inaugural event in January 1986, the Marade drew an estimated 15,000 people, according to the D With the exception of Atlanta, Dr. King’s birthplace, Denver’s Marade is the largest celebration in the country. Since then, an average 50,000 – 75,000 people attend the event every year, the organizers said.
The Marade happens every year, no matter the weather. While it will be a little cold Monday morning, snow is expected to have cleared out in time for the Marade. Last year, temperatures barely broke 3 degrees on MLK Day, yet hundreds of people still gathered for the event.
