Black History Parade and Festival 2023

Date/Time
Date(s) - 02/18/2023
10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Location
Robinson Park Recreation Center

Category(ies)

• Holidays
• Music
• Recreation

Black History Month Parade and Festival (Photo – Jason Hardin)

One of Southern California’s largest and longest-running Black history parades begins at Fair Oaks Avenue and Figueroa Drive and ends at Robinson Park.

Jim Hill, Los Angeles-based sportscaster and current lead sports anchor and sports director at KCAL NEWS, is this year’s celebrity grand marshal of the 41st annual Black History Parade and Festival.

Hill is a former defensive back who played in the National Football League for teams including the San Diego Chargers, Green Bay Packers, and Cleveland Browns. Two Pasadena natives and sitting Los Angeles County Superior Court judges, Pamela Dansby and Tara Newman, will serve as community grand marshals. Football teams from John Muir and Pasadena High Schools will share the honor of serving as youth grand marshals. John Muir brought home the CIF championship while PHS won the 2022 Pacific League Championship.

Other celebrities and special guests will join the parade including: Darnay Holmes, former UCLA Bruin and current New York Giants defensive back; and actress Gretchen Palmer known for her roles Hollywood films and TV shows including When Harry Met Sally, Young and the Restless, NCIS LA, and A Different World. Elected officials including Congressmembers Judy Chu and Adam Schiff, State Senator Anthony Portantino, Assembymember Chris Holden, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Mayor Victor Gordo, Pasadena City Councilmembers and PUSD School Board members are scheduled to attend.

Black History Parade and Festival

The 41st annual Black History Parade and Festival will take place on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, 10:00  am – 4:00 pm. More than 80 parade entries will highlight this year’s theme, “Celebrating our Excellence – The Legacy of Councilmember John J. Kennedy.”  The parade begins at Fair Oaks Ave. and Mountain View St. and ends at Robinson Park, where the festival takes place from noon to 4:00 pm.

The family-friendly, fun-filled festival will feature live performances by R&B artist Michel’le and the band Luv from Abuv, food for purchase, informational booths, a children’s zone, and a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) fair.

Street Closures and parking

The following streets will be closed for the parade and festival during the times listed below. Motorists are advised to use caution while driving through the area.

• Hammond St. between Fair Oaks Ave. and Morton Ave., 7:00 am – 6:00 pm.
• Morton Ave. between Mountain St. and Hammond St., 7:00 am – 6:00 pm.
• Fair Oaks Ave. between Woodbury Rd and Harriet St., 7:00 am – 12:00 pm.
• Fair Oaks Ave. between Mountain St.and Woodbury Rd, 9:00 am – 1:30 pm.
• Mountain St. between Raymond Ave.and Sunset St., 9:00 am – 1:30 pm.

Free parking is provided on a first-come, first-served basis at Calvary Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, 135 Glorieta St.

The parade will be recorded in its entirety by Pasadena Media and will air live on both KPAS, Pasadena’s government TV station, and Arroyo, the city’s community access channel.

> Read More: Pasadena Black History Month: A Wide Array of Programs