Pinellas African American Heritage Celebration Set For Feb. 25

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — Pinellas County will host an African American Heritage Celebration on Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The free Pinellas African American Heritage Celebration is a one-day festival at the Florida Botanical Gardens and Heritage Village at 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo.

Showcasing Black history and culture, the goal of this one-day festival is to exhibit the diversity within Pinellas County. It will highlight the talents of the students in Pinellas County Schools, Black artists, entrepreneurs and restaurateurs.

The nonprofit Cultured Books Literacy Foundation of St. Petersburg will present storytime performances.

The free event will include historical exhibits and presentations and a mini market featuring Black-owned businesses.

There will be food trucks and food vendors including J-New's BBQ & Grill, King Natural Foods, Just 1 Taste Of STL-Tampa, Synergy Sweets, TJ’s Soul & Grill Sandwich Shop and MZ SNO BIZ.

Contemporary singer/songwriter Amanda Coleman and R&B singer Deneen Wyman will perform along with gospel, hip-hop, jazz and classical performers on three stages.

There will be a second table reading of Aq&Ree: Brother Fire, Sister Fly! at 1 p.m. This play in development was written by 2022 Artist Laureate Jake-ann Jones and directed by Erica Sutherlin.

It is a work in progress about a brother and sister raised worlds apart and brought together when tragedy strikes. The play will be filled with music and media featuring actors and one musician.

Anona United Methodist Church and Young Life will host a kids' zone.

In conjunction with Black History Month, Heritage Village will feature the exhibit “A Place for All People: Introducing the National Museum of African American History and Culture,” a commemorative poster exhibition celebrating the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

The exhibit opens Feb. 15 and runs through April 30.

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