I Love a Marade

In these parts, we don’t just call this a holiday: The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Marade — so named by former Colorado First Lady Wilma Webb to denote it as a cross between a political march and a celebratory parade — is known for being one of the...

By Susan Froyd

January 13, 2011

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In these parts, we don’t just call this a holiday: The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Marade — so named by former Colorado First Lady Wilma Webb to denote it as a cross between a political march and a celebratory parade — is known for being one of the largest King rallies in the nation, and thousands are expected to march from City Park to the Capitol today, as they do every year. Crowds will begin to gather at 9 a.m. at the King statue in City Park, near Ferril Lake, for opening ceremonies at 10 a.m.; marchers, including families, floats and drummers, head for Colfax Avenue and the Civic Center at 10:45 a.m. for a culminating program. Admission is free, and the Marade is open to all; visit www.drmartinlkingjrchc.org for information.

But the holiday doesn’t end when the march does. Whoop it up tonight at the National Western Stock Show’s King Day tradition: The MLK Jr. African-American Heritage Rodeo Champions puts the spotlight on African-American influence in the West, with a daring show of contemporary rodeo-style action, from bull riding to mutton busting, put on by stars of the Bill Picket Invitational Rodeo circuit. Things start shaking at 6 p.m. at the Denver Coliseum, 4600 Humboldt Street; admission ranges from $13 to $35. Buy tickets in advance at www.nationalwestern.com.
Mon., Jan. 17, 9 a.m., 2011

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Susan Froyd started writing for Westword as the "Thrills" editor in 1992 and never quite left the fold. These days she still freelances for the paper in addition to walking her dogs, enjoying cheap ethnic food and reading voraciously. Sometimes she writes poetry.

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