More than 100 groups walked, waved and danced along Providence Road, 10th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue on Saturday afternoon to celebrate “Unity Through Diversity” during Lakeland’s 47th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade.
Participants included churches, civic organizations, high school marching bands, fraternities, sororities, youth cheerleading and dance groups, businesses and more.
Click on any photo to start a slideshow with larger images:
Members of the Polk Interfaith CoalitionMembers of the Lakeland branch of the NAACPThe Girls Inc. floatThe Junior League of Greater LakelandMembers of the Kathleen High School marching band performed with batons.Kathleen High School’s Red Devil marching bandKathleen High School’s Red Devil marching bandThe George Jenkins High School marching bandMembers of the George Jenkins High School marching band Lakeland Police Color GuardLakeland Police Color GuardFlorida Southern College students wave to the crowd.Members of the Final Distinction Dance Team wowed the crowd with their moves.Members of the Final Distinction Dance Team wowed the crowd with their moves.Crystal’s World of DanceCrystal’s World of DanceMayor Bill Mutz and Commissioner Stephanie Madden wave from the City of Lakeland float.Church of God Gospel TabernacleStaffers with the Florida Children’s Museum wave blue pompoms.Students from Academy Prep march and perform in the 2025 MLK parade. | Aaron DuffSheriff Grady Judd and members of the Polk County Sheriff’s OfficePolk County Public Schools including Community Engagement Director Kylia Carswell (left) and School Board Member Lisa Miller (right)Polk County EMSPilgrim Rest Freewill Baptist ChurchLakeland Police Recruitment and Training Officer Wakesha Phidd with McGruff the Crime Dog.New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church2025 MLK Parade Grand Marshal Morris Chestang, president of the Gladys Leggett Neighborhood Association, rode in the MidFlorida Credit Union float with Chief Financial Officer Zelda Abram. | Aaron Duff, LkldNowTerry Coney (right), president of the Lakeland branch of the NAACP, holds the group’s banner.MidFlorida Credit Union The MidFlorida Youth Conference’s Lakeland Lumberjacks cheer squadLakeland Patriots youth football playersLakeland Regional HealthLakeland’s Police Athletic League had a float as well as cheerleaders who did acrobatics and waved to crowds.Lakeland PAL Hurricanes CheerleadersLakeland PAL Hurricanes CheerleadersKathleen High School’s Junior ROTC officers.The Salvation Army brought out its massive red kettle.Lakeland Police closed off streets for the parade.The judges’ tableVendors had a variety of food options for hungry parade goers.Photos by Aaron Duff
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