Here's What's Happening

The City of College Park is proud to announce that it has been selected for the first time to host the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade for Clayton County, marking a historic and celebratory milestone for the community. The 2026 MLK Parade will take place on Monday, January 19, beginning at 1630 Phoenix Boulevard and proceeding to 5517 West Fayetteville Road. The parade is hosted by College Park Ward III Councilwoman Tracie Arnold, whose leadership and dedication to public service have helped bring this commemorative event to the city.

Councilwoman Arnold is a proud graduate of Clark Atlanta University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics. She specializes in Information Technology and has provided consulting services for notable organizations including Chick-fil-A, National Data Corporation, and Fulton County Schools. In addition to her service on the City Council, Councilwoman Arnold currently serves as Director of Business Operations and Chief of Staff for the School of Biomedical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University.

College Park holds a unique place in the region as a city that spans both Fulton and Clayton counties, making it an ideal location to bring together residents, leaders, and organizations from across county lines to honor Dr. King’s legacy.

The parade’s Grand Marshal is the Honorable Judge Penny Brown Reynolds, a nationally recognized public servant highly regarded in the legal field. Judge Reynolds has served as Executive Counsel to the Governor of Georgia and Chief of Staff to the Lieutenant Governor. Over her distinguished 27-year career, she has served as a trial court judge, Assistant Attorney General, Assistant District Attorney, and Judicial Clerk for the Georgia Court of Appeals. She is also widely known as the host of the syndicated television court series, “Family Court with Judge Penny.”

The parade starts at 10:00am; following the parade, the community is invited to post-parade festivities from 12 noon until 3:00pm at the Tracey Wyatt Recreation Complex – 2300 Godby Road in College Park. 

The mission of MLK Day parades around the country is to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy by celebrating freedom, justice, and equality; uniting communities; and recommitting to his vision of a better world through service and advocacy. These events serve as a call to action to continue the struggle for civil rights and human dignity for all people.

The City of College Park is honored to participate in this commemorative opportunity and encourages citizens throughout the region to join in reflection, unity, and celebration — and to “keep hope alive.”