Pasadena to Honor Legacy of Jackie Robinson at 42nd Annual Black History Parade & Festival

Black History Month is approaching and Pasadena is preparing to pay homage to the significant contributions of African Americans and celebrate their role in shaping the nation’s heritage.

Through a collaboration among the Pasadena Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department (PRCS), the Pasadena Public Library, Pasadena’s Black History Committee, and Friends of the Pasadena Public Library, residents and visitors will be treated to a series of free in-person and virtual events, programs, and activities throughout February.

With the theme “Past, Present, and Future,” this year’s commemoration aims to honor the diverse journey of African-American heritage through time. A key highlight is the upcoming 42nd Annual Black History Parade & Festival scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 17, featuring a special tribute to the enduring legacy of Jackie Robinson.

The Black History Parade starts at 10 a.m. on N. Fair Oaks Ave. and Mountain View St., weaving through city streets and concluding at Robinson Park. Parade participants and spectators from across Southern California will then converge at Robinson Park, at1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave. from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., for a vibrant Black History Festival featuring music, culinary delights, and cultural celebrations.

Last year, the 41st Pasadena Black History Parade and Festival centered around the theme “Celebrating Our Excellence – The Legacy of Councilmember John J. Kennedy,” and featured KCBS-TV sportscaster Jim Hill, and L.A. County Superior Court judges Pamela Dansby and Tara Newman, as celebrity and community grand marshals.

For more details and inquiries, call (626) 744-7300 or visit www.CityOfPasadena.net/Parks-And-Rec and www.PasadenaPublicLibrary.net.