January

Plant City Dr. MLK Cultural Arts Festival
January 2008
Plant City
(813) 757-6760

• Festival activities include a City Parade, Statewide Step Team Competition, Festival & Midway, Free Concerts, Lectures, Tribute Luncheon to Senior Citizens, and Art & Cultural Exhibits.

Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival
January 2008
Tampa
(813) 251-6780

• A cultural festival in which speakers, musicians, artists, poets and craftspeople welcome visitors annually. Includes cultural enrichment activities and a street festival.

Tampa MLK Parade
January 2008
Tampa
(813) 274-8615

• The parade is held on the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday to celebrate the contributions of the slain civil rights leader. Participants include public officials, community organizations, bands and floats.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast
January 2008
St. Petersburg
(727) 896-6556

• Join the National Council of Negro Women at The Coliseum for the MLK breakfast with guest speaker Dr. Crystal Kuykendall.  Call for ticket information.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebration
January 2008
St. Petersburg
(727) 893-7465

• The Drum Major for Justice Festival of Bands and National Parade lead festivities that also feature a student essay contest, ecumenical faith service and candlelight vigil.

February

Ebony Fashion Fair
February 2008
Tampa (The Historic Tampa Theatre)
(813) 361-4539

• Exciting, fast-paced show that showcases the latest fashions from American and international designers.

Hillsborough County African-American Celebration
February 2008
Tampa
(813) 276-2637

• Each year, Hillsborough County's Black Heritage Celebration Committee—made up of county employees—selects a Black Heritage theme that seeks to educate and entertain attendees on contributions made to the world by African Americans.

Reaching Back, Moving Forward, Holding Up the Light
February 2008
Tampa
(813) 274-8975

• 20th Annual Black History Program presented by the City of Tampa Black History Committee at the Tampa Convention Center.

Ebony Fashion Fair
February 2008
St. Petersburg (The Mahaffey Theater)
(727)420-2819

• Exciting, fast paced show that showcases the latest fashions from American and international designers.

• This celebration of the African American Culture through art, music, dance, storytelling, historical presentations and ethnic food is held at Pinewood Cultural Park, home of Heritage Village.

April

Caribbean-American Carnival
April 2008
Tampa
(813) 770-2449

• Featuring several top-notch Caribbean soca and calypso performers, well-known personalities from popular Caribbean/American radio stations, folk dancers from the Bahamas, reggae music from Jamaica, Haitian music, live steel pan, a costumed parade for both adults and children, Indo-Caribbean dance and drumming, art and craft on sale, a Caribbean-American food fair and other abstracts from the 33 island Caribbean nations.

May

Historic Central Avenue Expo and Family Festival
May 2008
Tampa
(813) 274-5833

• The annual celebration of this historic black neighborhood includes a festival in the park and a spelling bee.

Weed & Seed Family Fun Day
May 2008
St. Petersburg
(727) 892-5087

• This Fun Day includes carnival games, arts & crafts, food, medical screenings and give-aways. Free admission.

June

Glover School Banquet
June 2008
Plant City (Bealsville Community)
(813) 737-2004

• A banquet held each year on the first Saturday of June to recognize Historic Glover School, which provided education during the period of slavery and desegregation.

Annual Emancipation Day Ceremony
June 2008
Tampa
(813) 274-8975

• Presented by the City of Tampa Black History Committee.

Juneteenth Freedom Day Family Fest
June 2008
St. Petersburg
(727) 743-6792

• Live entertainment, dancing, historical presentations, vendors, medical screening, and social service exhibitors. Free admission.

Tampa Bay Caribbean Carnival
June 2008
St. Petersburg
(727) 327-1277

• Island crafts, food, children's area and colorful costume street parade. Music choices include Soca, calypso, reggae, Latin and folk.