Community leads procession in 75th annual Dunbar Easter Parade

Reporter: Anika Henanger Writer: Jack Lowenstein
Published: Updated:
Photo by WINK News.

Thousands of people gathered to celebrate a local Easter tradition.

The 75th annual Dunbar Easter Parade included the Easter Bunny, floats and candy Sunday.

“Everyone says the parade was better when they were younger,” said Martin Byrd, president of the Dunbar festival committee. “It doesn’t matter how old you are; it’s always better now, and it’s better then. So everybody else has their story and their memories.”

The Dunbar Easter Parade has seen marching, singing and running for candy on a yearly basis since 1945.

“We were born coming to the parade raised up,” Tarsha Brown said. “It’s truly a tradition, a family tradition. And we now are sharing to our children and our grandchildren.”

Many past parade memories are still fresh for Brown.

“I remember as a little girl,” Brown said. “As a teenager, this was the climax after morning service to getting dressed with my mom.”

Family members from all generations were lined up along Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard to watch the parade.

“I’ve seen it.” Byrd said. “Every generation brings their kids to the Easter parade, and they sit a lot of times in the same area to enjoy the parade on Easter Sunday.”

The organizers continue to keep the parade founder’s vision at the center of it all as the parade grows.

“The parade, it started off as something that Evelyn Sams Canady, a teacher in the area wanted to do to give back to the community, as well as do something for the kids,” Byrd said.

This year, floats for sports teams, news businesses and dancers added to the mix of parade participants without taking away from the purpose of it all.

Prince Street at the intersection of Edison Avenue to South Street will be closed until at least 7 p.m. tonight.

“It’s very important,” Vanessa Burciaga said. “I think it’s important to the kids. As well supporting them, it’s making their future and dreams go further. And it’s always good to have a support system behind you, especially when you’re a kid.”

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