9th Annual African-American Heritage Festival to ‘honor the past, celebrate the future’

TAVARES — Gospel choirs, arts and crafts, praise dancers, health screenings, and historical and cultural education are just a few of the highlights the 9th Annual African-American Heritage Festival will bring to Lake County. The theme of this year’s festival is “Honoring the past, celebrating the future.”

At 6 p.m. Friday, doors will open and the Center for Contemporary Dance will perform to the soulful sound of the Motown Era at a show entitled “Reflections” at the Tavares High School gym, 603 N. New Hampshire Ave. Admission is free and food will be available. Live music and the parade will start at 10 a.m. Saturday at Wooton Park, 100 E. Ruby St., Tavares. Afterward, the festivities continue through 4 p.m.

“The event centers around a fun, family-friendly atmosphere and is sure to be enjoyed by all who attend,” said Adam Sumner, Lake County’s interim director of economic development and tourism. “The event’s activities, along with the picturesque location of downtown Tavares, is ideal for  drawing not only residents, but many visitors from across Central Florida.”

For more information on the festival, call D. Dailey-Griffin at 352-551-1261 or email [email protected]. To learn how to participate in the festival, call Pastor Mike Watkins at 352-406-9608 or Sheila Short at 352-742-3603.