Attending festivals celebrating Black history and culture throughout the year is a powerful way to honor Black Americans’ shared legacy and experience. Festivals are an important reminder that acknowledging and celebrating this unique heritage is ongoing, not confined to one month each year. Participation in these events provides an opportunity to build connections, strengthen bonds and expand cultural understandings.
By attending festivals that celebrate Black history and culture, we can gain a better understanding of our nation’s past and help bring about positive social change. Learn about annual festivals that occur throughout the year around the United States.
January: Zora! Festival in Eatonville, Florida
The Zora! Festival is an annual event that celebrates the life and works of author, anthropologist and folklorist Zora Neale Hurston. The event takes place in Eatonville, Florida, a town founded by African Americans in 1887. It is now one of the oldest incorporated African American towns in the United States.
The festival features art shows, theatrical performances, dance parties and educational activities that honor Hurston’s legacy. In addition, attendees can visit the Outdoor Festival of the Arts to find unique handmade items perfect for the home, garden and gift-giving. The festival is an intergenerational event that celebrates Black culture and heritage while promoting education about Hurston’s work.
January: Tampa Black Heritage Festival
The Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival is an annual 10-day cultural event celebrating the African American experience in Tampa, Florida. Held every January starting the weekend before Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and ending the weekend after, it features a variety of activities, including speakers, musicians, dancers and a two-day music fest. The festival also offers educational and enrichment activities for all ages.
The purpose of the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival is to promote awareness and appreciation of…
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