PHOTO BY MARY CANNADAY


A little rain couldn't stop this parade, as area churches, bands and other groups celebrated icons Martin Luther King Jr. and Bartow's late mayor George Gause.

PHOTO BY MARY CANNADAY


The Buffalo Soldiers motorcycle group, Tampa Bay unit, joined in the Martin Luther KIng, Jr./George Gause parade in Bartow Monday. This group started in St. Petersburg with four members and now has 55. The charitable group has 97 chapters nationwide, according to the Tampa Bay president Carl "Road Dog" Lowery.

PHOTO BY MARY CANNADAY


A group of horseback riders from Gus Trent Horse Enterprises, LLC, in Plant City, brought admiring glnces from spectators at the Martin luther King, Jr./George Gause parade Monday in Bartow. About 25 riders strong, they were dressed in cowboy garb and were able riders.

PHOTO BY MARY CANNADAY


Brent Rudolph, of Bartow, had home-made candy apples for sale at the MLK Day gathering held after the parade at The Carver Recreation Center.

PHOTO BY MARY CANNADAY


Members of the Bartow High School Yellow Jackets band prepare for the Martin Luther King, Jr./George Gause parade Monday, at the staging area on Floral Avenue and Main Street, in Bartow.

PHOTO BY MARY CANNADAY


Londyn Moore, one year old, enjoys a snowcone with her Mom Chataliah Moore at the celebration held Monday at the Carver Recreation Center in conjunction with Martin Luther King, Jr. day in Bartow.

PHOTO BY MARY CANNADAY


The Bartow Youth Football and Cheerleaders group had lots of help in decorating their float at the staging area on Floral Avenue Monday, for the Martin Luther King, Jr./George Gause parade.

PHOTO BY MARY CANNADAY


These young wheelie riders put on quite a show, in the Martin Luther King, Jr./George Gause parade Monday in Bartow. This group gets more skilled with every year that passes.

PHOTO BY MARY CANNADAY


Kids had great fun scrambling for the candy and beads thrown from passing participants in the Martin Luther King, Jr./George Gause parade Monday in Bartow.

PHOTO BY MARY CANNADAY


Shania Harris, age 9, is having some major fun in the bouncy house - one of about five set up on the grounds of the Carver Recreation Center following the Martin Luther King, Jr./George Gause parade Monday in Bartow.

PHOTO BY MARY CANNADAY


J-City and J-Mel, who described themselves as up and coming rappers on the Bartow scene, were enjoying the food and fellowship at the Carver Recreation Center's Martin Luther King Jr./George Gause celebration, following the parade. The rappers' group is called "Give me a Dollar Entertainment."

PHOTO BY MARY CANNADAY


The Bartow High School brass section brings down the house during the Martin Luther King Jr.//George Gause parade Monday in Bartow.