Participants gather at a local church at Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2016.

TIFTON, Ga. — For more than decade, the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Parade has helped keep King’s memory and legacy alive. This year is no different.

The combination march and parade will start up at 1 p.m., Monday, Jan. 16.

Lineup starts at 12:30 p.m.at the corner of 17th Street and South Central Avenue.

The parade will head down Central, taking a right at 2nd Street to head down to the courthouse.

A small service will take place at the courthouse upon the parade’s arrival.

“We celebrate him because he was willing to put his life on the line for peace,” said Ambrose King, one of the parade organizers. “We honor him and his message because it’s a moral message. We’re celebrating the message. He put into action what the moral status of this nation should be.”

The parade is not the only event taking place to honor King.

An Opening Governmental Prayer Service is being held 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 13 at First Presbyterian Church at 217 N. Park Ave.

A Prayer Breakfast will be held 8:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 16 at the Tift County Recreation Department Gym at 401 Victory Drive.

A King Commemorative Service is being held 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 16 at Historic Springfield Baptist Church at 507 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

All churches, organizations, businesses and residents are encouraged to participate in the parade march.

For more information about the parade, contact Akeria Lockett at 229-326-4238.