MLK March Commencement Delayed by One Hour: Essential Details
San Antonio, a city known for hosting one of the largest MLK marches in the country, is gearing up for another massive turnout in 2024. The City of San Antonio is making preparations for the event and offering parking and ride options for attendees. The MLK March is organized by the MLK Commission, which was established on April 3, 1986. Since its inception, the march has become an annual tradition, with the first official march held on January 19, 1987, although smaller marches had been taking place on the east side of the city since 1968.
The march takes place every year on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which falls on the third Monday of January. This year, the march will be held on January 15, 2024, which coincides with Dr. King’s actual birthday. The march is set to begin at 11 a.m., one hour later than previous years, due to the anticipated freezing rain on Monday morning.
The starting point of the march is Martin Luther King Jr. Academy, located at 3501 Martin Luther King Drive. The decision to delay the march by an hour was made in response to the icy weather conditions. The march covers a 2.9-mile route and concludes at Pittman-Sullivan Park on 1101 Iowa St. At the park, a large festival awaits participants, featuring a main stage with multi-cultural performances, speakers, food vendors, health and wellness vendors, and family activities.
With the cold weather expected on the day of the march, the City of San Antonio has issued guidelines for participants to ensure their safety and comfort. These guidelines include dressing in layers, avoiding breezes and drafts indoors, eating nutritious food, wearing warm clothes, and consuming hot foods and drinks throughout the day. The city advises everyone to take these precautions as morning lows are expected to be in the 20s.
For those planning to attend the march, the City of San Antonio strongly recommends utilizing Via’s free park and ride service. With an estimated 300,000 people expected to participate, the park and ride service will help alleviate traffic congestion. Passengers can access the bus service for free from 8 to 10 a.m. at two locations: Freeman Coliseum and St. Philip’s College. The drop-off point for the march will be on MLK Drive, west of Upland Drive. Buses will be clearly marked with either St. Philip’s College or Freeman Coliseum and will return participants to the original pick-up locations from 12 to 3 p.m.
For more information on the MLK March in 2024, visit the official website.
