Black Heritage Festival packed with an array of events for the next week

TAMPA - Hillsborough residents will get the opportunity to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy and participate in a number of events through the annual Black Heritage Festival in downtown Tampa.

The festival is spread over 10 days, holding an array of events from the two-day music and street festival featuring “Old School Saturdays” and “Gospel/Jazz Sundays” at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park to a genealogy luncheon examining the use of DNA in family research.

Influential speakers such as Martin Luther King III and journalist Dorothy Gilliam will be keynote speakers.

The festival began January 13, with a financial seminar and a heritage movie night, and a plethora of events are coming up over the next week.

January 14

Heritage Gala: a semi-formal cocktail party with live entertainment; 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. today; $30 to $50; Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Old Water St., Tampa, Fla.

Street festival: features performances by singer Jeffrey Osborne, violinist Ken Ford and local blues, reggae, Latin and hip-hop acts, along with artists', authors', children's, health and corporate villages; 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday; free; Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa, Fla.

January 15

Heritage 5K Walk for Cancer
7:30 am - 9:45 am
Tampa, FL 33651
Old School Saturday
10:00 am - 6:30 pm
600 N. Ashley Drive (downtown), Tampa, FL 33602

January 16

Old School Saturday Street Festival HighlightsNational MLK Drum Major for Justice Battle of the Bands & Drum Line Extravaganza: a lively marching and drum line competition among Hillsborough County schools; 4 p.m. Sunday; $10 to $15; Tropicana Field, One Tropicana Drive, St. Petersburg; (800) 745-3000

January 17

MLK Day Parade: the 21st annual procession with the theme "A day on, not a day off!"; noon to 3 p.m. Monday; free; 15th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Tampa

January 18

Heritage Living History Art Exhibit
10:00 am - 7:00 pm
Tampa, FL

January 19

Heritage Leadership Luncheon: features award-winning journalist Dorothy Gilliam; 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday; $10 and $100; University Area Community Development Corp., 14013 N. 22nd St., Tampa; (813) 558-5212, ext. 300

January 20

USF University Lecture Series: a speech by human-rights activist Martin Luther King III; 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday; free; University of South Florida Phyllis Marshall Center Ballroom, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa; (813) 974-1001 or www.uls.usf.edu

January 21

Shockwave

Shockwave is a powerful, provocative message combined with a spine tingling, emotional atmosphere full of laughter, tears and thoughtful silence. This is an electrifying experience featuring poets Taalam Acey, The Rising Phoenix, Dichotomy, J.G. The Jugganaut, Real Shtz, Autumn Blaze, and Jason Alexander.
8:00 pm - 11:00 pm

January 22

Know Your History Mobile Tour
The “Know Your History” Mobile Tour focuses on the milestones and news makers of the 20th century. The truck contains artifacts, memorabilia, photographs, and art that thematically mirrors American Legacy – the premier magazine of African-American history and culture.  10:00 am - 4:00 pm

For more events and information on the events listed, visit www.tampablackheritage.com