Plant City Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Arts Festival

 

Friday January 13th, 2012

Opening Ceremony -

11:30 a.m. at the Plant City MLK Recreation Center, 1106 Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd (FREE)

Featuring the Lincoln IB Elementary Choir

 

*PROFESSIONAL CARNIVAL WITH THRILL RIDES OPENS FRIDAY THRU SUNDAY

 

*FLORIDA STATEWIDE STEP SHOW COMPETITION*

1/10/12 News!!!!

There will be no stroll and/or walk in at the Friday Night Step Show Qualifying Round

Featuring Special Guest Judge Buckwheat from the 94.1 WiLD Bunch and featured DJ

$10.00 for adults

$5.00 for youth 3 to 9 yrs old;

under 3 yrs old free

It's highly recommended that youth attending this event bring their school id's.

$1,000.00 for Boys Step Team 1st Place

$1,000.00 for Girls Step Team 1st Place

This will expand opportunities for more than one winner and be more favorable for participants.

 

After Party immediately afterwards!

The Step Show will be a TWO DAY EVENT. Over $2,000.00 in cash prizes. Step Teams must attend and compete in the qualifying round on Friday night at Marshall MIddle School Gym, Plant City. *Cash Prizes are awarded at competition to winners. There is no delay nor waiting for prizes.

The 2nd round will be held in Lakeland (Bryant Stadium, Lakeland) and cash prize will be presented on Saturday. NO TEAM that doesn't compete in the 1st round will not be eligible to compete on Saturday.

*Deadline extended for last minute registration. Contact the Improvement League before January 7th, 2012 at (813) 757-6760.

 

OTHER EVENTS--------------

1)TAMPA BLACK HERITAGE SIGNATURE EVENT-

HERITAGE GALA Friday at the Stratz Center, Tampa, Florida

 

 

Saturday January 14th, 2012

Plant City MLK Midway Day at the Plant City MLK Sports Complex

Carnival Midway & Vendors 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

 

Freedom Parade 1:00 p.m. *Click Here for Parade Line-Up updates*

Click above or news page for more details.

 

Hip Hop Concerts 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Featuring Tom G @ Plant City Rec Center Courtside

 

Gospel 4:00 p.m. - Hosted by Ms. Edith Langston, Gospel METS (UPDATED 1/2/12)

 

Step Show Final Round 2:30 p.m. Bryant Stadium, Lakeland

Featuring an after party with Roscoe Dash and Doug E. Fresh

 

PLANT CITY Night of Motown 6:00 p.m. at the Plant City Red Rose Inn Ballroom

Featuring the "Contours" and "Johnny Alston and the Motown Revue" Saturday Night at the Plant City Red Rose Inn Ballroom, Plant City, Florida. Call the Red Rose Inn for tickets and special packages. Tickets ranging from $65 to $85 dollars. Proceeds to benefit the youth and family programs supported by the Improvement League each year.

Johnny Alston & the Revue (Rock N Roll)

 

OTHER EVENTS------------

1)TAMPA BLACK HERITAGE SIGNATURE EVENT-

Two Day Street Festival, Curtis Hixon Park, Tampa, FL ---- -BOTH SATURDAY & SUNDAY

FEATURING ROSE ROYCE ON SATURDAY "Hit single- Car Wash"

 

2) STEP SHOW FINAL ROUND

Bryant Stadium, Lakeland, FL 2:30 p.m.; After Party Featuring Roscoe Dash & Doug E. Fresh

 

 

Sunday January 15th, 2012

Plant City MLK Leadership Breakfast 7:30 a.m.

Plant City Red Rose Inn & Suites Ballroom, Plant City, FL $25.00 RSVP

The Plant City Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Breakfast is held Sunday morning from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at the Plant City Red Rose Inn & Suites Ballroom in Plant City, Florida.

 

The Breakfast features Guest Speaker Mr. Albert Dotson Jr., President/Chairman of the Board, 100 Black Men of America, Incorporated.

Also on program are the Durant JROTC, and special entertainment.

Each year the leadership breakfast is attended by an audience of residents, city, county, state and federal officials, church leaders and representatives throughout the business community; the breakfast also recognizes individuals and/or business entities whom make a difference in the community and neighborhoods of Plant City each year. The awards consists of the E.L. Bing, Sadye Martin, King and President Award Categories. 

Click Here for more information on Breakfast

 

PLANT CITY MLK CARNIVAL MIDWAY & VENDORS OPEN SUNDAY 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

 

OTHER EVENTS------

1) TAMPA BLACK HERITAGE SIGNATURE EVENT- BOTH SATURDAY & SUNDAY

Two Day Street Festival, Curtis Hixon Park, Tampa, FL

 

2) CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG SIGNATURE EVENT-

Battle of the Bands, Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL

 

 

Monday January 16th, 2012

FREEDOM WALK & Bing Rooming House African American Museum Tours

Freedom Walk at starts at Bing House TO Sam Cooper Park 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Children Vendors open from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (18 years and under) at Bing House Museum.

The Plant City Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Arts Festival is a 4-day cultural event held in Plant City during the month of January.  A Opening Ceremony, Statewide Step & Dance Team Competition, Freedom Parade through historic downtown, Motown Revue, Leadership Breakfast, Freedom Walk, Saturday street fest with excellent ethnic cuisine, health fair, rides & concessions, goods, educational exhibits at the Bing Rooming House, Plant City’s African American Community Museum and visual and performing artists for children and adults highlight the Plant City MLK Festival. 

 

OTHER EVENTS------------

1) TAMPA BLACK HERITAGE EVENT-

TOBA Breakfast, Tampa, FL

 

2) CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG SIGNATURE EVENT-

MLK Parade, St. Petersburg, FL

 

PLACES TO VISIT WHILE YOU ARE HERE

PLANT CITY AREA AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE TRAIL

Black Heritage & Education

The Plant City Bing Rooming House African American Museum will be open for public tours and educational presentations on Plant City’s Black Heritage.  The Bing Rooming House Museum is committed to preserving the history of the local African American community, educating the general public about the experiences encountered by African Americans during the era of segregation, and sharing the role of the Plant City community in overcoming the stigma of segregation.  Anchoring the Laura Street Restoration District this facility is located at 205 South Allen Street, Plant City.  www.plantcitybinghouse.com.

Other educational opportunities include:

Laura Street Restoration District, Bing House

Take a walk through Laura Street as you see the remanants of a former business district, historic churches such as Allen Chapel or Mount Moriah, Marie B. Ellis Park a former Negro Baseball Field, or take a stroll around the 10 acre lake at Sam Cooper Park.

 

Plant City Photo Archives & History Center

Located in historic downtown the Photo Archives maintains over 100,000 historic photographs from the era of 1901 through 1970s. Photo files on former Marshall Negro High School, special events and successful black business owners.

 

Historic Glover School Campus- 5104 Horton Road, Bealsville (Plant City)

10 acre campus of Glover School founded by freed slaves in 1868 (post civil war era). Visit the original wooden structure and concrete structure additions (1935), old playground and school books. Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, founded in 1864 is directly across the road.

Bealsville and Pinecrest Cemetaries where former slaves are buried are within one mile of the school.

 

Ruby's Fruit Stand located in State Road 60, Bealsville (Plant City)

Ruby's Fruit Stand is noted for its famous folklore art. Ms. Ruby welcomes thousands of goseers along the major highway each year. Her artwork is also on display in the Smithsonian, Washington D.C.

IF YOU VISIT, LET US KNOW!!!

If you decide to visit any of the above listed sites/landmarks, please send us an email to note your visit and/or attendance. This information will provide proof of visitors coming to the area for future support and expansion. Email- plantcitymlk@tampabay.rr.com.

 

 

MLK National Holiday

Timed to coincide with the national holiday commemorating the life of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Festival provides an all-inclusive setting in which citizens of every ethnic background and culture can experience and celebrate the contributions of African Americans.  

 

Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival

The Plant City Dr. MLK Cultural Arts Festival promotes increased diversity awareness and opportunities for citizens of Plant City and surrounding West Central Florida to actively engage in gaining knowledge, and history of African culture.  Leading this effort is the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival, providing 21 days of culture experience in partnership with the City of Tampa, St. Petersburg and City of Plant City.  The Plant City MLK Festival has worked with the organizers of the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival for 4 years now. 

.