TUSCUMBIA – The North Alabama African Heritage Association will host the 18th Annual North Alabama African Heritage Festival on Friday and Saturday, June 1 and June 2, 2018 at the Willie Green Recreation Park.
Organizers of the festival said it has grown from a local gathering to a destination cultural event.
“People from all over the country have been calling, wanting to know about the festival,” said organizer Wallace D. Ricks of Tuscumbia. “It keeps getting bigger every year.”
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 celebrations in the Shoals.
A festival preview will begin at 4:30 p.m. Friday, June 1 with the annual “Music on the Lawn” event. Music this year will be provided by the Come Up Band from Decatur and the Shoals area’s own Midnighters. Admission is free.
On Saturday, June 2, 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. Admission is free.
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 facilitate a movie showing with refreshments and the Deltas will also have a shoe “give away” along with other activities.
There will be numerous vendors on hand with food, clothing, African attire, paintings and a variety of other items. Saturday’s headliner is the Exodus Reggae Band of Memphis, Tenn.
The festival events are provided free by the Association with help from city of Tuscumbia and local Shoals area merchants and organizations. For more information call 256-335-2911.
