The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Committee in Picayune is preparing for an annual celebration honoring the memory of the well-known civil rights activist set for Jan.15.

The parade will start at 10 a.m. from the Rose of Sharon Church of God in Christ, located at 500 N. Beech St., and conclude at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, located at 501 Weems St., according to a release by the MLK committee.

Line up for the parade will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m. and buses will be available at Pleasant Valley beginning at 8:30 a.m. to provide marchers a ride to Rose of Sharon for the line-up.

Brittany Spikes, chairperson of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Committee, said she is expecting a huge turnout from local churches and local businesses. 

After the parade, a service will follow at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, after which dinner will be served to all the participants.

Additional festivities and performances will follow the service at JP Johnson Park.

The committee invites participation from community members, church congregations, marching organizations, dance teams and clubs.

Organizers said floats, vehicles, church buses, and people riding bicycles and ATVs will be allowed to participate.

The event is free.

Questions about the event can be directed to Etta Scott at 601-347-1848, Ozie Turner at 601-798-3506 and Brittany Spikes at 601-347-5648.