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WILMINGTON, N.C. — The 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Parade will return to downtown Wilmington next month after a one-year hiatus.
The SENC MLK Celebration Committee canceled the parade last year due to political and logistical issues.
Tamara “Ty” Young, a Wilmington native and former WNBA player, will serve as this year’s parade grand marshal.
Young attended Laney High School and James Madison University prior to her selection in the 2008 WNBA Draft. She went on to play for the Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky and Las Vegas Aces before becoming an assistant coach with Chicago.
The parade will take place on Jan. 19 at 11 a.m. on 3rd Street downtown.
Other celebrations, including a pageant, a family fun day, and an ecumenical service, will run from Jan. 12 through Jan. 24.
”This parade has always been more than just a celebration—it’s a reminder of unity, resilience, and progress. We are energized and excited to once again gather as a community to march in the spirit of Dr. King and reaffirm our shared commitment to justice, equality, and service,” said SENC MLK Celebration Committee Members in a press release.
For more information on the parade and other events, click here.
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