Black Heritage Festivals
PINELLAS COUNTY
FLORIDA AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY CELEBRATION
Locations: Heritage Village, Gulf Coast Museum of Art, Florida Botanical Gardens
Largo, Florida
Phone: 727-532-1698
Website: www.pinellascounty.org/unity
The annual celebration, held the last Saturday every February, features the sounds of gospel, jazz/blues and traditional African drumming and dance; the aromas of authentic ethnic recipes; an exciting marketplace with arts and crafts and other merchandise with African and African American themes and styles and hands-on activities and visual and performing art workshops for adults and children. The event is from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free.
The event is held at Heritage Village, the Gulf Coast Museum of Art and the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo. Free event parking lot is located at 119th Street, between Walsingham and Ulmerton Roads.
POLK COUNTY
L.B. BROWN HERITAGE FESTIVAL
470 Second Avenue East
Bartow, Florida 33830
Phone: 863-534-0100
Website: www.lbbrown.com
Held in February, this festival features live performances by jazz artists, story tellers, singers, dancers and art exhibits. Food and art vendors cap off this annual event, which celebrates the life of L.B. Brown, a pioneer in Polk County's black community.
PASCO COUNTY
ANNUAL JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION
Zephyrhills, Pasco County
Phone: 813-778-6064 (Black Caucus of Pasco County)
Email: blackcaucuspasco@aol.com
Website: http://blackcaucuspasco.org
Sponsored by the Black Caucus of Pasco County, the annual Juneteenth event began four years ago. Activities range from entertainment such as a Battle of the Drums, a community Barbeque, a Poetry workshop, to speakers, various vendors and activities held in local churches. An annual Miss Juneteenth pageant has also become tradition.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY GOVERNMENT
Website: www.hillsboroughcounty.org/econdev/tourism/blackheritageevents.cfm
This website offers a full listing of 2008 Black Heritage Events in the Tampa Bay and Hillsborough County area.
TAMPA BAY BLACK HERITAGE FESTIVAL, INC.
P.O. Box 16622
Tampa, Florida 33687
Phone: 1-888-224-1733 Ext. 143
Website: www.tampablackheritage.org
This annual festival brings together exciting events from street festivals, to live entertainment, upscale fundraising galas to historic exhibits. The Black Heritage festival strives to celebrate all cultures of the African Diaspora in the Tampa Bay region. For a current listing of activities, and for pictures, visit their website. Costs vary depending on activity. Entrance to street festivals is free, as are the historic exhibits. Tickets for theatres, singing and films carry a cost.
CITY OF TAMPA ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY PROGRAM
Tampa Bay Convention Center
333 S. Franklin Street
Tampa, Florida 33602
Website: www.cityoftampablackhistorycommittee.org
Organized by the City of Tampa’s Black History Committee, now a 501(c)3 organization, this annual program focuses on a theme, such as Black Inventors in Science. The program is free, open to the public and held each February at the Tampa Bay Convention Center.
ANNUAL EMANCIPATION DAY CEREMONY
Tampa, Florida
Website: www.cityoftampablackhistorycommittee.org
The annual Emancipation Day Ceremony is organized and hosted by the City of Tampa’s Black History Committee. Although the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, enslaved African Americans did not receive official word of their freedom for nearly two and a half years. On June 19, 1865, Union Army General Granger publicly announced in Galveston, Texas, that “all slaves were free.” Tampa’s ceremony aptly celebrates with a formal recognition and reading of the Emancipation Proclamation. Free. Open to public.
HISTORIC CENTRAL AVENUE EXPO- FAMILY FESTIVAL IN THE PARK
Perry Harvey, Sr. Park
1200 North Orange Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33602
Phone: 813-274-5833 (City of Tampa, Department of Cultural Affairs)
Designed to preserve and celebrate the memories of historic Central Avenue, this family festival takes place in the months of May or June. Since the former Scrub area is undergoing redevelopment, succeeding festivals will take place in a different location. Family festival themes vary each year. Free and open to the public.
"GET ON THE CENTRAL AVENUE BUS" TOUR
Robert W. Saunders, Sr. Public Library
1505 Nebraska Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33602
Website: www.fredhearns.com/
Created by Mr. Charles “Fred” Hearns, the Black History Committee and the Friends of the Urban Libraries group in Tampa, Florida, this bus tour offers a very special glimpse of African American life on historic Central Avenue prior to integration. With 65 sites mentioned and two walkable historic sites, the Get on the Central Avenue Bus Tour is always in demand. Be sure to call ahead to for the next bus tour date and for ticket reservations!
BLACK ON BLACK RHYME, COTTON CLUB
2502 North Albany Road
West Tampa, Florida
Phone: 813-254-1440
Website: www.blackonblackrhyme.com
The original Cotton Club in Tampa was located on historic Central Avenue. This night club is now located in the heart of West Tampa’s African American community, the new Cotton Club hosts a well-attended cultural event on Tuesday evenings. Black on Black Rhyme features slam poetry and spoken word by regulars and amateurs, with an emphasis on consciousness-raising. Catering to a mature crowd, generally thirty years and up, Friday evenings are a nice night for dancing to old soul and R&B music.
Cost: Must be 21 or over to attend. $5 Cover after 9pm. Show starts at 9:30pm every Tuesday night.
ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. PARADE
Monday, January 21st, 2008
Tampa, Florida
Phone: 813-274-8615 (City of Tampa, Parks & Recreation Department)
Website: www.hcso.tampa.fl.us/
Website: www.tampagov.net/dept_parks_and_recreation/
The annual MLK, Jr. Parade and Family Festival features music and entertainment, ranging from food vendors, to children’s activities, to a vibrant street parade that celebrates the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Call for information about this year’s parade route. Free and open to all. Visit the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, listed above, to register your float/group for the parade.
ANNUAL MLK, Jr. CULTURAL FESTIVAL
Plant City MLK Sports Complex
1601 East Dr. MLK Jr. Boulevard
Plant City, Florida
Website: www.plantcitymlkfestival.com/
The MLK Cultural Arts Festival is celebrating 21 years this January. Activities include a City-wide parade, a step show, concerts and a youth gospel extravaganza. For more information, visit Plant City’s Chamber of Commerce website. Some activities carry a fee to attend.
SARASOTA COUNTY
MLK, Jr. FESTIVAL IN THE PARK
The weekend-long festival in Sarasota is held in mid January, the birth month of slain Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. An ecumenical church service, reception and golf tournament commemorates King's contributions.
The culmination of the celebration is a large community prayer breakfast that attracts all segments of the Sarasota community. A music festival is held after the breakfast and features performances of jazz, R&B and gospel groups at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. Proceeds from events fund college scholarships for Sarasota County students.
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