Michael and Gillian White to Serve as Celebrity Grand Marshals of Pasadena’s 42nd Black History Parade

The City of Pasadena and the Black History Planning Committee are pleased to announce the 42nd annual Black History Parade and Festival on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. with the theme “Past, Present, Future: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Jackie Robinson.” The parade begins at Fair Oaks Avenue and Mountain View Street and ends at Robinson Park, 1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave., where the festival takes place from noon to 4 p.m. Pasadena’s Black History parade is one of the largest and longest-running in Southern California.

Throughout the day’s activities, Jackie Robinson’s many contributions to the Civil Rights Movement and the Pasadena community will be recognized and honored. Danny J. Bakewell, Jr., Vice President of the Bakewell Company, will serve as the parade grand marshal of this special and historic event. This year’s celebrity grand marshals will be Michael Jai White and Gillian White, both award-winning actors who have broken barriers and earned accolades both on and off screen. Pastor William Turner Jr. will serve as the community grand marshal, with the Tournament of Roses princesses (Rose Court) as the youth grand marshals.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive early at the parade to navigate street closures, find parking, and claim their favorite viewing spots along the parade route. Free parking is provided on a first-come, first-served basis at Calvary Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, 135 Glorieta St.

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 Street between Fair Oaks Avenue and Morton Avenue, 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Morton Avenue between Hammond Street and Mountain Street, 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Fair Oaks Avenue between Woodbury Road and Harriet Street, 7 a.m.-noon
• Fair Oaks Avenue between Mountain Street and Woodbury Road, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
• Mountain Street between Raymond Avenue and Sunset Street, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

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. Visit PasadenaMedia.org for broadcast times.

2024 Black History Parade and Festival sponsors include Pasadena City College, Huntington Hospital, Tournament of Roses, The Bakewell Company, NAACP, Titan Disposal, Pasadena Black Municipal Employees Association, Pasadena Management Association, Kidspace Children’s Museum, and Pasadena Recreation and Parks Foundation.

For more information about the parade, festival, and other activities, including parade entry applications, contact the Jackie Robinson Community Center at (626) 744-7300.