On Saturday, January 19, at 10 a.m., the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Garland, Texas branch will host its 19th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. parade and march. 
 
The celebration begins with a parade which starts on Dairy Road at Garden Drive near Embree Park.  The parade proceeds north to Avenue D/SH 66, then turns west to First Street.  The parade continues north on First Street to Avenue B/SH 66, traveling west to Fifth Street, then north to Austin Street, ending at the Granville Arts Center at Fifth and Austin Streets.
 
The 2008 theme is “Honoring Our Garland Mayor and First Lady on MLK Day.”  Grand marshals for the parade and march will be Mayor Ronald Jones and his wife Peggy.
 
Immediately following the parade, the celebration continues with a program in the Arts Center’s main auditorium.  The MLK Community-wide Youth Choir, St. Luke AME Puppet Ministry and Ida Handley Elementary Choir will perform. 
 
On Sunday, January 20, at 4 p.m., the MLK Youth Extravaganza will showcase the talents of area youth groups, who will perform praise dances, step routines and military-style drills. 
All events are open to the public and admission is free. For information, contact the NAACP at 972-381-5044, voice box #5, or visit the website at www.garlandtxnaacp.org.