January

Plant City Dr. MLK Cultural Arts Festival
Plant City
January 15-18, 2010
(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
Tampa
January 14-23, 2010
(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
Tampa
January 18, 2010
(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
St. Petersburg
January 18, 2010
(727) 327-6555

• Join the National Council of Negro Women at The Coliseum for the MLK Leadership Awards breakfast.  Call for ticket information.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebration
St. Petersburg
January 15-18, 2010
(727) 327-6555

• The Annual National MLK Drum Major for Justice Battle of the Bands and Drum Line Extravaganza with Parade lead festivities that also feature a student essay contest, ecumenical / multi-faith worship service and candlelight vigil.

February

Hillsborough County African-American Celebration
Tampa
February 12, 2010
(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.

City of Tampa Black History Program
Tampa
February 17, 2010 ~ Tampa
(813) 814-3031

• Annual Black History Program presented by the City of Tampa Black History Committee.

Florida African American Heritage Celebration
Largo
February 27, 2010
(727) 588-6342

• 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
Tampa
April 24, 2010
(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
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 2, 2010
St. Petersburg
(727) 892-5087

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

Annual Emancipation Day Ceremony
May 20, 2010 ~ Tampa
(813) 814-3031

• Presented by the City of Tampa Black History Committee.

June

Glover School Banquet
Plant City (Bealsville Community)
June 5, 2010
(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.

Juneteenth Freedom Day Family Fest
St. Petersburg
June 20, 2010
(727) 743-6792

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

Tampa Bay Caribbean Carnival
St. Petersburg
June 13, 2010
(727) 327-1277

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