TUSCUMBIA-The North Alabama African Heritage Association will host the 16th Annual North Alabama African Heritage Festival on Friday and Saturday, June 3rd and June 4th, 2016 at the Willie Green Recreation Park in Tuscumbia.
Wallace D. Ricks of Tuscumbia, an organizer of the festival, is expecting a big crowd, including many former Shoals residents who make the festival a homecoming. “Our festival gets bigger every year. We have people who plan their vacation around coming back home and going to the festival. Plus, we have lots of local people who never miss going to the festival.”
Susann Hamlin, president and CEO of Colbert County Tourism and Convention Bureau, said the North Alabama African Heritage Festival is one of the largest annual events in the area.
A festival preview will begin on Friday at 5 p.m. with “Music on the Lawn” provided by the Shoals Blues Band featuring Judy Toney.
On Saturday, the festival will resume at 11 a.m. with African singing, drumming and dancing. There will be performances by local musicians in multiple genres including, gospel, R & B and more. This year’s festival will feature the Egbe Tiwalade Dancers and an authentic African cultural presentation from the Uhuru African Dancers. Both groups are from Atlanta, Georgia.
The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. will have a voter registration drive and the local nursing chapter of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. will conduct health screenings.
The Muscle Shoals Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will sponsor a written Black History competition at 1:30 p.m. for students in grades 9 through 12.; monetary prizes will be awarded to the winner and to 2nd , 3rd and 4th places in the competition. The “Deltas” will also provide other activities for children and the general public throughout the day on Saturday.
An added attraction for this year is a play entitled “Take Me Out to Harlem” written by Marlandus Goodloe. The play features music and songs from the “Big Band” era and will be held on Sunday, June 5th at 4 p.m.
There will be numerous vendors on hand with food, clothing, African attire, paintings and a variety of other items. Some of the featured acts include the Muscle Shoals Twirlers, the Come Up Band of Decatur, Dorothy Cole, James Street Entertainment, Mojo Risin’ Blues Band and more. Friday and Saturday’s festival events are provided free by the Association with help from city of Tuscumbia and Shoals area merchants. For more information call 256-335-2911.
