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Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday that marks the birthday of the great civil rights leader, will be celebrated this year on Monday, Jan. 16.
The MLK Day march and celebration in Austin is one of our favorite public events, probably because it seems to pick up people, power, and festivity as it moves from start to finish.
This year, the march will start with its traditional speech at the MLK statue on the University of Texas campus at 9 am. Marchers will will leave UT at 9:45 a.m. and head to the Capitol, where there will be a program of speeches from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. The march will then head to its destination, the Huston-Tillotson University Campus.
There will be a celebration on the campus immediately following the march. You can find out more about that event and others connected to the holiday here. Also, watch this space tomorrow for a roundup of volunteer opportunities for the MLK Day of Service.
Below is a map of the parade route and street closures (though they are only partial closures, as the streets will close only when the parade is passing), courtesy of the Downtown Austin Alliance.
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Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
(Partial Closure)
Between San Jacinto Boulevard and Congress Avenue.
There will be no full closure. APD will escort the parade and close intersections ahead of the procession. The road will open as soon as the parade has passed.
Congress Avenue
(Partial Closure)
Between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and 15th Street.
There will be no full closure. APD will escort the parade and close intersections ahead of the procession. The road will open as soon as the parade has passed.
11th Street
(Partial Closure)
Between Congress Avenue and Chalmers Street.
There will be no full closure. APD will escort the parade and close intersections ahead of the procession. The road will open as soon as the parade has passed.