There are two parking garages within walking distance to the Martin Luther King Jr. Unity parade route with over 800 parking spots. The Kissimmee intermodal parking garage can be accessed from Neptune Road via Tohopekaliga Avenue and Toho Square parking garage can be accessed from Pleasant Street via Darlington Avenue or Ruby Avenue. There is additional parking at Kissimmee City Hall (101 Church Street) as well as on-street parking throughout Downtown Kissimmee.

The parade route for the Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Parade runs through Historic Downtown Kissimmee beginning at the Osceola County Courthouse and ending at Kissimmee Civic Center.

The best views of the parade are found along the following streets: 

• Broadway
• Dakin Avenue

The Martin Luther King Jr. Unity festival allows for vendor opportunities for businesses, groups and organizations. To be approved as a vendor, you must complete the vendor application. On the day of the event there will be a designated vendor parking spot. Once approved, you must pay the vendor fee. 

Commercial Vendors: $60

Non-Profit Vendors: $45

Vendor Application will open closer to the event date!

The City of Kissimmee's Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Parade is a vibrant event in the heart of our growing community. Your business, organization or group can be a part of the celebration and receive increased visibility by sponsoring a parade float. Parade floats are given 40 feet of space for vehicles, floats or walking groups. Each float will be highlighted to event attendees by a live commentator.

Parade float pricing

• Standard : $75
• Non-profit: $50
• Festival of Lights & MLK Unity Celebration parade combo: $100 standard/$64 non-profit

Parade float applications will open closer to the event date!

Each year we honor one member of our community to be the Grand Marshal of the Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Parade. This individual will ride in the first parade float and will help launch the parade festivities. If you know someone who lives in Osceola County and displays outstanding pride and commitment to our community then you can nominate them using our Grand Marshal nomination form. 

Grand Marshal nominations will open closer to the event date!

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Writing Contest

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

Middle School students can submit a poem in any format and High School students can submit a 300-word, five-paragraph essay with one introductory paragraph, three main body paragraphs with support and development and one concluding paragraph. All poems and essays must be written following the theme “Peace Begins with Me.”

HOW TO ENTER:

Submissions must be turned in to their class instructor who will select one winner from their class. Each school will then select one winner from each grade level to be submitted to the City of Kissimmee. The winners from each school must be submitted using the writing contest form by the January 10 deadline. 

HOW TO WIN:

Final judging for the poetry competition will be by Osceola Library System staff. Final judging for the Essay competition will be by the Osceola County NAACP and Osceola Visionaries Inc. One winner will be selected for the Middle School age bracket and another winner for the High School age bracket. Winners will be announced at the City of Kissimmee’s Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Celebration on Saturday, January 18 where they will receive a plaque and will be invited to attend the Osceola Visionaries Annual Martin Luther King Jr.’s Commemoration Banquet with their families on Monday January 20. 

MORE INFO:

 Contact civiccenter@kissimmee.org

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Art Contest

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

 Elementary, Middle and High School students in Osceola County can submit a 2-D art piece. Artwork may be any medium. On the back of each entry please include the student’s full name, grade, contact number and school. All art must be created following the theme “Peace Begins with Me.”

HOW TO ENTER:

Entries are due to Pamela Haas, Fine & Performing Arts Resource Specialist, at the School District of Osceola County no later than end of day January 16.  Non-SDOC schools must drop artwork off at Berlinsky Community House on January 16 from 3 pm to 6 pm.  All artwork should ready to hang when turned in.

HOW TO WIN:

Final judging of all of the art displayed at the Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Celebration will be done by “Friends of the Arts in Osceola.” Winners will be announced during the event and they will receive a trophy.

MORE INFO:

Contact civiccenter@kissimmee.org