Local Celebrities, Bands, Performers and Marchers Fill the Streets at Black History Parade

Hundreds lined Fair Oaks Avenue as one the Southland’s biggest celebrations of black history, culture and achievements — Pasadena’s 33rd annual Black History Parade and Festival — rolled down Fair Oaks Avenue from Altadena all the way to the Jackie Robinson Center in Pasadena on Saturday.

More than 70 entries were featured in the parade, including the Wilson Middle School Marching Band, New Buffalo Soldiers, local dance and drill teams, car and motorcycle clubs, musicians, community dignitaries and City officials.

Celebrity Grand Marshalswere award-winning NBC4 Southern California General Assignment Reporter Beverly White and actor-comedian Jason Echols. Community Grand Marshals Bill and Brenda Galloway showed up with their beautifully restored 1958 Jaguar convertible (filled with grandchildren).  White and other members of the NBC4 news team manned an NBC4 booth on Hammond Street during the festival for a special meet and greet with the community.

Other parade honorees were Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard;  Tournament of Roses Association Secretary Gerald K. Freeny who is slated to become the first black Tournament of Roses Association president in 2019; Pasadena Journal publishers Joe and Ruthie Hopkins; longtime Pasadena resident Pastor Emeritus John Burch; Pasadena Water and Power General Manager Phyllis Currie; retired Pasadena Fire Chief Calvin E. Wells; Pasadena Human Relations Commission staff member Sonya Amos; 2015 Rose Queen Madison Triplett; and Kristina Smith, who became Pasadena’s first black Rose Queen in 1985.