Alliance to celebrate MLK with 26th parade, party
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The City of Alliance will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of service and unity at noon Saturday with the 26th Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration.
Planned by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Steering Committee, events include the parade that steps off at noon and a community event at Maple Beach Park that includes free food and games.
Parade lineup begins at 11 a.m. Waugh, Devine, Ohio, College and Rice streets. The information area will be at the corner of South and Martin Luther King Blvd. (South Liberty Avenue).
The parade will travel north on MLK Boulevard (South Liberty), continue north across MLK Viaduct, east on Patterson Street, north on Oak Avenue, east on Reed Street and end at Maple Beach Park.
The park celebration will include free hotdogs and hamburgers, live music with a DJ, vendors with soul food, sweet treats, jewelry, clothing and more. Events at Maple Beach Park will last until about 6 p.m.
Alliance's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade royalty
The 2023 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. king is Camden D. Nicholson, a student at Mount Union majoring in psychology with a minor in religious studies. He was born and raised in Alliance and is an Alliance High School graduate. After graduating, Nicholson hopes to open a clinic to help address mental and behavioral health issues in our community. According to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Steering Committee, Nicholson said “he feels one of the things missing in Alliance is male motivators willing to reach out to the young. To encourage and empower our community as Dr. Martin Luther King once did.”
The male attendant is Qwintin Hancox, a senior at Marlington High School. He is a three-year letter winner in football and has won four letters in wrestling. Hancox plans to go far in the beauty industry. He said “our young people are the future, and their dreams must be acknowledged.” According to the committee, Hancox answered the question of what Martin Luther King Jr. means to him with “MLK stood for everyone, no matter who they are. We must learn to live together as brothers.”
The 2023 queen is Kellynne Marie Paaloalo, a senior at Alliance High School this year. She is involved with many activities, including soccer, basketball, track, and this year, cheerleading. She also is in her second year of sports medicine as a vocational student. Her goal is to become a personal trainer as she continues her education in sports medicine. Kellynne’s younger sister, Kevyon, applied to be an attendant. The steering committee said Kellynne “is from a military family. She’s learned endurance and determination.”
Female attendants are Cyndi Weatherspoon, a student a Marlington High School, and Kevyon Mamie Wells, a junior at Alliance High School. Weatherspoon is active in her church, Second Baptist, and studies cosmetology. She also volunteers at Altercare Nursing Home and Stone Creek Senior Living Center. Wells plays soccer and basketball, and is a cellist in the high school orchestra. Wells works and volunteers in the community. She also has a 4.0 grade-point average.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade lineup
Waugh Street, Division 1
Alliance Police Chief Scott Griffith
American Legion #166-Scarlet Beret Color Guard
2023 MLK Banner Bearer-Doris Marshall Grimes #12 Girls Assembly
City of Alliance Mayor Andy Grove
2023 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade grand marshal Pam Young
2023 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Royal Court – Queen Kellynne Paaloalo; attendants Cydni Weatherspoon and Kevyon Wells; king Camden Nicholson; and attendant Qwintin Hancox.
EN-RICH-MENT Community Drumline Academy
Devine Street, Division 2
Buckeye Freedom Jeep Club
Democratic Club of Alliance
Councilwoman Cindy King Ward 2
Rodman Public Library Bookmobile
Carnation City Twirlers
Kyle L. Stone, Stark County prosecutor
“Dream By Royal” Meeting Children’s Needs
Temple of Faith C.O.G.I.C.
Black History Museum
Maple Beach Neighborhood Association
Ohio Street, Division 3
T. Young Steppers of Canton
Alliance Church of The Nazarene
Triumph the Church and Kingdom of God in Christ
Tabernacle Baptist Church
Duke Hill, first place show car
Ezekiel Harper, 1969 Cadillac Eldorado
James Hawkins, 1983 Chevy Monte Carlo
Grove Appliance
College Street, Division 4
2023 Carnation Queen & Court
Stark County Community Action Agency Head Start
Cantell Elks Lodge
Sarchione Auto Gallery
Councilwoman Sheila Cherry Ward 1/Johnson Athletic Club
Stark County Sheriff’s Office
Kirksey-Young-Hawkins Reunion
The Bel-Air Singing Group
Alliance City Schools
Alliance High School Marching Band
Rice Street, Division 5
Slingshot – Cheryl Burt
Slingshot – Willy Fitts
Ted Bowen the Juggler
Skippy the Squirrel, City of Alliance Parks Department
Lexington Township Fire Department
Alliance Fire Department
Brothers of The Hammer Motorcycle Club
This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Alliance to celebrate MLK with 26th parade, party
