Stop us if you’ve heard this before: Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be cold in Denver Monday.

An artic blast will send chills down the city’s spine this upcoming weekend, dropping temperatures to nearly 0 degrees with a real feel of 12 degrees below zero with wind chill, according to National Weather Service Boulder. But, festivities celebrating the legendary civil rights leader will continue on.

The weather did bring a slight delay and program shortening, though.

The 41st annual Denver MLK Jr. Marade — a mashup of march and parade hosted by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Colorado Holiday Commission — will be delayed on Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., according to the commission.

The Marade is one of the United States’ largest Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations. Denver citizens will walk down the street, honoring the day the civil rights icon was born.

Due to the frigid weather, the free event will start 30 minutes later at City Park near the MLK Jr. statue with speakers and a laying of a wreath. The Marade will then move down Colfax Avenue and stop at Civic Center Park after noon.

The commission is discouraging the attendance of seniors, small children and people with health problems. Three warming shelters will be opening near the parade route, as well, to give marchers a break from the wintery conditions.

The Marade saw the same frigid conditions in 2024, with temperatures only reaching 2 degrees on Jan. 15, 2024.

Holiday closures

For those unwilling to brave the cold on Monday, you’re in luck. Due to the day being a federal holiday, most government and city agencies will be closed as well.

Colorado Gov. Richard Lamm signed legislation into law making Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day a Colorado holiday in 1985. Since then, the state has closed all offices during the day.

United States Post Office mail services will also be postponed during the holiday. Most businesses and restaurants will remain open Monday — though some may operate with altered schedules. People should check specific business websites before traveling to them.

All 24-hour agencies — like emergency services and the Denver International Airport — will remain fully operational on Monday.

Government and city buildings in Denver, Adams, Jefferson, Boulder, Arapahoe and Douglas counties will be closed on Monday and re-open on Tuesday. Denver libraries will also be closed.

Parking will be free in Denver Monday and return to normal prices on Tuesday.

Weather closures

Other events

Other than the parade, there will be events throughout the state celebrating the birthday of MLK Jr.

The City of Boulder’s Human Relations Fund, with support from the Office of Arts and Culture, will be holding three events in the city across Sunday and Monday.

On Sunday, La Vecindad will be holding a Freed by the Hum of the Drum event from 12 to 5 p.m. at Mi Chantli located at 1750 30th St. Unit 22 in Boulder. The free event will include music performances, free hip-hop classes, dancers and poetry readings.

Also on Sunday, the Boulder Jewish Community Center will be holding free keynote speakers at 6007 Oreg Ave. between 3 to 5 p.m.

On Monday, the Motus Theater will be holding speakers and performers at the Dairy Arts Center located at 2590 Walnut St. from 3 to 5 p.m.

The National Western Stock Show will hold its annual MLK Jr. African American Heritage Rodeo, celebrating rodeo champion Willie “Bill” Pickett and Martin Luther King Jr. fat 6 p.m. Monday.

The Colorado Black Round Table will be holding a celebration on Monday at 3 p.m., at the Zion Senior Citizen Center, 5151 E. 33rd Ave. in Denver.