By Steven Stubbs/Reporter
TIFTON — The annual Arts in Black Festival will be held the weekend of March 27 at Fulwood Park. The festival is a celebration of African-American heritage and art offering activities for every age group.
The festival will be full of attractions and activities for the entire family, such as art, clowns, face-painting and games. Vendors will be selling food and crafts from many cultures, and there will also be a health fair to discuss safety for both kids and adults.
Anyone who has a desire to attend is welcomed and encouraged to do so.
“We don’t want the community to think that this is an exclusion of any culture or race,” Olga White, Executive Director of PLIGHT Inc., said. “This is a community event open to everyone.”
Many performers will be at the festival including the ABAC choir and a dance group called “Street Beat.” The evening’s activities will feature the Heather Hayes Band, which will perform between 4-6 p.m. Hayes is the daughter of the late singing sensation Issac Hayes.
“Our purpose is to host a multicultural event that is not only educational, but fun,” Steve Hyman, chairman of the Arts in Black Committee, said.
The festival, which runs throughout the weekend, will kick off on March 26 with a talent show held at the Tift Theater. The show will feature 24 contestants who will compete in front of judges for first, second and third-place prizes. Winners will receive trophies and gift certificates. The talent show will begin at 7 p.m. and the admission is $6, with kids, five and under, in free.
The weekend festivities will conclude on Sunday with a 3 p.m. poetry contest at the Leroy Rogers Senior Center. Judges will pick winners from different categories, and trophies will be awarded.
“We want to celebrate the African-American culture with different music, exhibits and food,” White said. “We expect it to be a fun weekend for everyone.”
The Arts in Black Festival has been held every year since 1986.
To contact reporter Steven Stubbs, call 382-4321.
