Now in its 42nd year, the Orange County Black History Parade will be held this weekend in Anaheim, helping usher in the observance of Black History Month.
The parade, set for Saturday morning in downtown Anaheim, will be followed by the Unity Festival, a cultural fair on Center Street Promenade with booths offering food, information and products, and a display of artwork by youth.
Kenny Lattimore, a Grammy-nominated singer, will serve as the parade’s grand marshal. Also attending the event will be two top-ranking leaders of Camp Pendleton’s 2nd Battalion 5th Marine Regiment, who are that branch’s first pair of Black officers to serve as commanding officer and sergeant major together, said Shedrick Collins, president of the Orange County Heritage Council, which organizes the annual parade and festival.
His 108-year-old great-uncle, Warren Bussey, who Collins said is California’s oldest surviving World War II veteran, also will take part in the parade and other festivities.
It’s great to bring the event back, after it was canceled last year due to the pandemic, Collins said, because it’s not just the kickoff to Black History Month, it will serve as a reunion “to see old classmates, to see old neighbors, to see people in the community that you haven’t seen in the last couple years – we think it’s going to be a really big turnout.”
He expects the event to hit the high end of its previous attendance of 8,000 to 10,000 spectators, and the parade will have about 70 entries including floats, bands and other groups.
Collins said he’s particularly hoping people attending the post-parade festival will stop by the “health village,” which includes partners such as UCI Health and City of Hope that will offer health screenings and wellness information. Also tied to Saturday’s event is an exhibition at the Muzeo featuring the work of Black artists; it runs through March 20.
The Black History Parade begins at 10 a.m. on Anaheim Boulevard at Lincoln Avenue. The cultural fair on Center Street will start after the parade and runs until 5 p.m. More information is at www.oc-hc.org and the event’s Facebook page.
