This year’s 17th Annual MLK “Unity” Parade will take place on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at 12:00 noon.
The parade will feature Holmes County High School band, Amanda Elzy High School band of Greenwood, MS, Heidelberg band, the Corvette Car Club, and others.
Retired Judge Tobey Bartee and Mr. Terry Rogers will be the Grand Marshals for the parade this year.
Line up for the parade will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Harris Ave. The parade will follow the same route as the Christmas Parade by turning onto Donald Street, taking a left at the red light in front of Southern Market onto Archusa Ave., and continuing straight on Archusa Ave. before turning onto Charleston Street by the Quitman Fire Department to end the parade.
They are hoping for the City of Quitman to “SHOW in 2024,” including city officials, the Chamber of Commerce, fire departments, the band, churches, organizations, youth groups, dance teams, football teams, baseball teams, etc. All participation would be appreciated by the program committee consisting of Julie Holt, Pam Chapman, Sherry Pickens, Wanda Kirksey, Tracy McCarty, Taniya Davis, and Dorothy K. Bartee (Advisory).
The theme for this year’s parade is “Black Inventions,” and there will be a prize given for the most “creative” float based on the theme. First place will receive $100, second place will receive $50, and third place will receive $25.
This amazing parade started 16 years ago when Julie Holt decided to start a MLK “Unity” Parade based on the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and her own vision of making Quitman a model community possessing community involvement, understanding, inspiration, education, and diversity. When the first parade was held, Judge Tobey Bartee and Attorney Gilford Dabbs were the Grand Marshals. Julie had a huge vision, and after working in Hollywood, she wanted to contact Anderson Cooper with an interview of the citizens coming together and eradicating the thoughts people have about the south. That is why she named it a “Unity” parade. While she hasn’t been able to get up with Anderson Cooper for an interview yet, she still strives to make her dream a reality and create unity in the community through the parade.
Each year, the parade has taken on different themes to salute a plethora of titles: nurses, pastors, teachers, music, sports, and more. The first few years the parade was held, there was also a program after the parade; unfortunately, they had to discontinue the programs because of lack of funding. They have still been blessed with faithful contributors whose donations have enabled the parade to continue each year.
Come out and support this great parade on January 13 and show how united the community can be!
