Lakeland's 20th Dream Mega Fest continues with MLK parade, Swan City Jazz Festival
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LAKELAND — Lakeland residents have come together to assemble over a week’s worth of events honoring the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., one of America's most famous civil rights leaders.
The festival continues this weekend with Lakeland's MLK parade on Saturday and the Swan City Jazz Festival on Saturday and Sunday at Kathleen High School. The city’s 20th annual Dream Mega Fest 2024 “Living the Dream: Spread home, courage, unity; start with me" kicked off Jan. 12 with events spread out through Jan. 26 aimed at bringing people together. Most are free to attend.
“We’ve worked with the community to bring a week of events and activities, both pre- and post-Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday,” said Lynne Simpkins, organizer for event. “This is possibly due to the ongoing support that has come from various partners to make this happen.”
The events started Jan. 12 with a leadership forum, “College, Careers & Community,” sponsored by Marriott Vacations, at the city’s Lake Crago complex, 530 Lake Crago Drive. Simpkins said local students will be taught leadership skills to get from “cradle to college, careers to working in the community.”
“It’s an opportunity for students to come together to work on projects with community service hours,” she said.
This educational event is part of an intentional focus on education, Simpkins said. The focus is shared through events including Parents University on “Reading, Reasons & Recommendations” that was held at New Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church on Jan. 16. The church also hosted a Wellness Wednesday on Jan. 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., where health care providers will be on hand to answer questions about services they provide.
Several large entertainment events were planned as part of Dream Mega Fest in attempt to draw different segments of the community to mingle and celebrate together – part of the original parade founder’s goal.
“We do the entertainment to support the education,” Simpkins said. “It’s not about the hoopla.”
For Simpkins, her motivation and driving passion is to help preserve the legacy of the late Christine Simmons, a Lakeland civic leader who founded the city’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day annual parade in the 1970s. The event is now organized by the City of Lakeland, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, and the nonprofit Education and Enlightenment Group Inc.
“We support Dr. Martin Luther King, he’s just a big figure,” Simpkins said. “It’s also about the Christine Simmons, as we still have to respect and give honor that she fought for a Martin Luther King [Jr.] Parade in Lakeland.”
Lakeland’s parade struggled for many years with large crowds often turning to crime and gang violence following the parade, Simpkins said. The city began offering entertainment events at Bryant Stadium in attempt to draw the crowds off the streets and keep the environment positive.
Before the 2023 parade, Simpkins said the city worked to help turn over the parade to the community. One of their requests was to change the day and time the parade was traditionally held to later in the day.
“We had to give them a reason to come back out,” she said. “Last year, we had probably the best parade they have had in the 45 years the parade has been going on.”
Simpkins hopes to build on that momentum. This year’s Martin Luther King Jr. parade steps off Jan. 20 at 1 p.m. The route begins at Providence and West 4th Street, traveling south along Providence Road then east on West 10th Street with a main viewing area at West 10th St. and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. The parade will continue south along Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue to 2nd Street.
The Swan City Jazz Festival, originally scheduled for Munn Park, has been moved to Kathleen High School from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free.
There are 90 participating groups with 145 units taking part in this year’s parade, Simpkins said. She expects it to last approximately two hours.
Lakeland Housing Authority and Humana have come together to help create a senior citizen seating area along the southwest corner of the Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. and West 10th St. for the first time this year, Simpkins said. She hopes it will give them a comfortable place to watch the parade near the judging stand and allow them to mingle with senior service providers, who will be on-hand to provide information about available services.
For those unable to attend, the parade will be filmed to be shown on the Lakeland and Polk County’s government broadcasts.
Key community partners, including the City of Lakeland and Lakeland Electric, New Beginnings High School, Walgreens, Humana, Dedicated Senior Medical Center and Marriott Vacations Worldwide have provided the resources and funding for more events than ever this year.
Upcoming 2023 Dream Mega Fest Events
Jan. 20 and 21, noon to 7 p.m.: Swan City Jazz Fest, originally scheduled for Munn Park, the event has moved to Kathleen High School.
Jan. 20: MLK Parade steps off at 1 p.m. at Providence and W. 4th St.
Jan. 21, noon to 6 p.m.: MLK Car Showcase, Joker Marchant Stadium sponsored by Diretta's Baby (Fee to show a car in competition).
Jan. 26, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Dream Mega Fest Partner and Provided Appreciation Reception at The Well, 114 E. Parker St.
Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on X @SaraWalshFl.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland's MLK events continue with parade and jazz festival
