Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities- January 20-25, 2009

Zora Neale Hurston

"Taking place the last week of January each year in Eatonville and throughout Orange County, Florida, this multi-day, multi-disciplinary event celebrates the life and work of 20th century writer, folklorist and anthropologist, Zora Neale Hurston; her hometown, Eatonville, the nation’s oldest incorporated African American municipality and the cultural contributions people of African ancestry have made to the United States and the world.

Attracting thousands of locals and tourists, ZORA! Festival presents an impressive roster of arts, humanities and cultural programming. The event features museum exhibitions, public talks, panel discussions, workshops and concerts.

It culminates with a three-day weekend Outdoor Festival of the Arts, which features everything from literacy programs for children; performances by local, regional and national acts; Juried Arts competitions, presenting fine artists with their original artwork in competition for cash prizes; an international marketplace, where visitors purchase wares from around the world, a health village, international food pavilion featuring an array of food options, and more.

The festival has featured luminaries such as actors, the late Ossie Davis, Miss Ruby Dee, Cicely Tyson, Danny Glover and Richard Roundtree; vocalists Al Jarreau, Jeffrey Osborne, Isaac Hayes, Najee, Bobby Womack, Freddie Jackson, Fred Hammond, Vickie Winans, Dr. Bobby Jones, writers, Alice Walker, Nikki Giovanni, Edwidge Danticat; poets Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka and Ntozake Shange; distinguished scholars Dr. John Hope Franklin and Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and more." (source: www.zorafestival.com)

Learn more at www.zorafestival.com