ZORA! Festival celebrates African-American arts, culture

One of the greatest literary voices of the Harlem Renaissance grew up just down the road — and the festival celebrating her work is just around the corner.

The historic town of Eatonville will celebrate African American culture and the arts at the 29th annual ZORA! Festival on Friday, Jan. 26 through Sunday, Jan. 28.

East Kennedy Boulevard will be turned into a walkable sidewalk festival with at least 50 different merchants and food vendors, while also giving visitors a chance to hear numerous speakers,  view artwork, catch live funk and Motown music, and see the Cuttin’ the Rug: ZORA! Line Dance Showcase.

The festival celebrates American novelist Zora Neale Hurston, an iconic figure and voice in the Harlem Renaissance who grew up in Eatonville and went on to write “Their Eyes Were Watching God” and many other literary works. She was born in 1891 and died in 1960.

“Overall for every festival each year, the goals are three: to celebrate the life and work of Zora Neal Hurston – the writer, the anthropologist, the folklorist; to celebrate the historic significance of her hometown, Eatonville, Florida; … and third, to celebrate the cultural contributions for which people of African ancestry have made to the United States and to world culture,” The Association to Preserve Eatonville Community Executive Director N.Y. Nathiri said. “Every year, those are our marching orders.”

But not all events are of an artistic nature. Many of the events are meant to promote discussion and overall knowledge. Former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham and attorney Chris Hand will be speaking at the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church at 8:30 a.m. Friday about how U.S. citizens can make the government work for them, an effort to give people hope that democracy can work.

“It’s important that people know that we’re celebrating the intellect as well as the creative — the left brain and the right brain, so to speak,” Nathiri said.

One of the biggest highlights of the festival taking place elsewhere will be an evening with music producer and recording artist David Banner at 8 p.m. Saturday at the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management Auditorium, 9907 Universal Blvd., Orlando.

The festival will have something for everyone, Nathiri said.

“First and foremost, we want them to enjoy themselves,” she said.