March, Festival, and Food Drive

The Annual Community March celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy while uplifting diversity and multi-culturalism in our city. All businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals are invited to march and celebrate Dr. King’s legacy.

The MLK Community March kicks off on Monday, January 20, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. on the south steps of the State Capitol for a rally.

At the conclusion of the program we will march to Huston-Tillotson University for the MLK Festival

MLK COMMUNITY FESTIVAL @ HUSTON-TILLOTSON UNIVERSITY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS THE MARCH

The family friendly festival will include all types of vendors and local musical artists to make this year’s celebration the best ever! A vendor application can be downloaded for those interested in purchasing booth space. For questions and information, please contact Carol Wright by email at [email protected].

SUPPORT THE CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK (FESTIVAL ONLY)

This year, we are asking marchers to help by donating can goods or non-perishable food items, which will be donated to the Central Texas Food Bank. Help to give to those in need by helping the Central Texas Food Bank fill their shelves with non-perishable food items. “True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it is not haphazard and superficial. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.” — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Receptacles will be available at the festival at Huston-Tillotson University.

Please follow these guidelines when considering what to donate:

  • Healthy, non-perishable foods
  • Items with intact, un-opened, consumer or commercial packaging
  • Items with non-breakable packaging (no glass, please)
  • Food within the expiration date on the packaging
  • Food from your community or backyard garden
  • Canned meats like tuna, stew, and chili (pop-tops preferred)
  • Canned Vegetables
  • Pasta and pasta sauce
  • Beans
  • Healthy cereals
  • Peanut butter

We want to help you enjoy more of what you love, so we’re helping cut down on the time you spend looking for parking!

Where: UT MLK Statue and March towards the Capitol to end at Huston-Tillotson University
When: Monday, January 15, 2024
How: On CapMetro, of course!

We have 1,000 passes to distribute so first come, first serve.

Enter the form below to request your FREE (1) digital Local Day Pass to get you to and from the Austin MLK Celebration 2024. You must complete the form separately for each adult attendee. Passes will be distributed on Friday, January 12.

Note: Kids under 18 ALWAYS ride CapMetro for FREE! You do not need transit passes for children under 18.

In order to receive your pass, you must be registered on the NEW CapMetro app.?Please make you have the new CapMetro app downloaded (click here to get the app) before you request your free pass.

FREE PARKING LOCATIONS

We sincerely thank the locations below for offering free parking on the morning and afternoon of the march and festival.

  • State’s Visitors Garage (12th & San Jacinto St.)
  • Kealing Middle School (1607 Pennsylvania Ave.)
  • Holy Cross Catholic Church (1610 E. 11th)
  • Blackshear Elementary (1712 E. 11th)
  • Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church (1206 E. 9th)
  • Mt. Olive Baptist Church (1800 E. 11th)

Vendor Information

Interested in securing a booth at the Community Festival immediately following the Annual Citywide MLK Community March & Rally?