Kingdom Day Parade rescheduled as L.A. grapples with deadly wildfires

The 40th annual Kingdom Day Parade, originally set to take place on Saturday, has been rescheduled as the Los Angeles area continues to navigate through a pair of massive, deadly wildfires.

The Kingdom Day Parade will still travel down the streets of Los Angeles’ Leimert Park neighborhood but is now scheduled for Monday, Feb. 17, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Parade-goers were urged to be in their seats by 9 a.m.

The Parade’s website describes the event as the “world’s largest and longest-running life celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King.” This year’s theme is “Peace and Unity, Let it Start with Us.”

The change of date comes as Los Angeles County is dealing with the fallout of the Palisades and Eaton fires that erupted last week.

The Palisades Fire had scorched 23,713 acres and was 19% contained as of Wednesday morning. The Eaton Fire was mapped at 14,117 acres and was 45% contained.

At least 24 people are believed to have died as a result of the fires.