Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival Events Gear Up Downtown

From Kendra Cummings of Vistra Communications:

The 13th Annual Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival activities continue with nine great events taking place through Tuesday, Jan. 22.  Most of the following family-friendly events are free and open to the public.

The Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival is a 10-day cultural event that features speakers, musicians, artists, poets and craftspeople locally and nationally. The Festival takes place January 17-26 in Tampa Bay.

Festival activities occur during the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend. Each day of this experience provides both children and adults with an opportunity to increase their awareness of African and African-American culture and history. This event promotes diversity and cultural sensitivity within the Tampa Bay area community.

Here's a rundown of the festival's schedule today and Tuesday:

Monday, Jan. 21, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

•  The TOBA (Tampa Organization on Black Affairs) Leadership Breakfast will be held at 6:45 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency Downtown, 211 N. Tampa St. Tampa, FL 33602, with speaker Delano Stewart.

• The 7th Annual Heritage Golf Classic has a Tee Time an 8:30 a.m. at the Quail Hollow Golf Course- 6225 Old Pasco Road Wesley Chapel Fl 33544. . Register for the golf classic at http://tampablackheritage.org/golf-classic-fundraiser/.

Tuesday, Jan 22

• Heritage Living History Exhibit Reception will feature civil rights activists Harry and Harriette Moore. The Kotler Art Gallery in the John F. Germany Public Library will host the exhibition reception at 7 p.m. at 900 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa, FL 33602. 

Major sponsors of the 13th Annual Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival include: Nielsen Company, AAA Auto Club, WTVT Fox 13 Tampa Bay, City of Tampa, Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART), Tampa Tribune and the Tampa Theatre.

For more information about Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival and a full list of events, visit the website at www.TampaBlackHeritage.org, www.Facebook.com/TBBHF or contact William Sanders at 888.224.1733 or 813.325.2539.

Do you plan to go to the festival? Tell us in the comments.