Martin Luther King Jr. holiday march route and street closures

The annual MLK Community March that “celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy while uplifting diversity and multiculturalism in our city,” as the organizers put it, kicks off Monday, January 21, at 9 a.m. with a short program at the MLK statue on the University of Texas campus (23rd Street and Speedway).

The march then proceeds to Huston-Tillotson University, where a festival with numerous activities is planned. (As is standard during gubernatorial inauguration years—and despite the fact that Gov. Greg Abbott’s swearing-in happens Tuesday, Jan. 15—the march’s route will not take it through the Capitol.

The Route

Streets closures and map are via the Downtown Austin Alliance website.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. BOULEVARD

(Partial Closure)

Between Trinity Street and Guadalupe Street

This is a rolling closure. APD will close intersections ahead of the procession. The road will open as soon as the parade has passed.

SAN JACINTO BLVD

(Partial Closure)

Between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and E. 11th Street

This is a rolling closure. APD will close intersections ahead of the procession. The road will open as soon as the parade has passed.

11TH STREET

(Partial Closure)

Between San Jacinto Blvd and Chalmers Avenue

This is a rolling closure. APD will close intersections ahead of the procession. The road will open as soon as the parade has passed.

The Community Festival

The MLK Community Festival begins immediately after the parade, on the grounds of Huston Tillotson University, at 11:1 5 a.m. and lasts until 3:30 p.m. The event will feature a variety of vendors and performances by local musicians including Funk Mob Reunion, Tameca Jones, Pat G, and Bavu Blakes.

Donations

March and festival participants are asked to donate canned goods or non-perishable food items for the Central Texas Food Bank. Details on what kinds of items can and cannot be donated can be found on the MLK Celebration website.

How to get there

Capital Metro services will be on a Saturday schedule due to the holiday—meaning there will be no MetroRail, UT, E-Bus, or MetroExpress service. You can still use its trip planner to to find the routes that are in operation that day.

Austin’s numerous taxi, ride-hailing, rental bicycle, and scooter transportation options should be fully available on Monday as well.

Where to park

If you drive to the march or festival, be sure to check the street-closure map above before you head out.

The following organizations and spaces have donated free parking on the morning and afternoon of the march and festival:

• State’s Visitors Garage (12th & San Jacinto St.)
• Disch-Falk Field (1300 E. MLK Blvd.)
• Kealing Middle School (1607 Pennsylvania Ave.)
• Holy Cross Catholic Church (1610 E. 11th)
• Blackshear Elementary (1712 E. 11th)
• Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church (1801 Pennsylvania Ave.)
• Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church (1206 E. 9th)
• Mt. Olive Baptist Church (1800 E. 11th)