The annual weekend of festivities hosted by Plant City Black Heritage Celebration, Inc. has a few changes this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Gala and Youth Summit will be held like normal, but the Jazz Festival and the Gospel Concert have been canceled.
Every year, the community comes together for a weekend filled with celebrations hosted by the Plant City Black Heritage Celebration, Inc. The annual Black Heritage Banquet and Gala is a night filled with camaraderie, great food and a message from a keynote speaker that never fails to inspire the crowd.
The 18th annual Black Heritage Education and Cultural Festival is scheduled for February 12 and 13 and its theme is “Remembering The Past, Shaping The Future.” The Plant City Black Heritage Celebration, Inc. and Hillsborough Community College are holding this year’s gala at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Trinkle Center, 1206 N. Park Road.
Thaddeus Bullard, aka WWE Superstar Titus O’Neil, will be featured as the keynote speaker and will speak to the theme of “Remembering The Past, Shaping The Future” during the evening. Rod Carter, anchor with Channel 8, will be the master of ceremony.
“We’re inviting the community to come out and support and celebrate Black History Month, but also to give back because all the proceeds we raise go toward our scholarships which we give out to the community,” Sharon Moody, event coordinator, said.
Those who purchased a ticket in advance and plan to attend must wear a face mask. Tickets cannot be purchased at the door and must have been purchased in advance. Social distancing is required and each table will only have four seats in order to ensure proper distancing is enforced. The proceeds from this event benefit the organization’s annual scholarship fund. There are a few tickets left, so if you wish to purchase one you should contact Moody as soon as possible by phone at 813-453-7134 or by email at sharonmoody91@yahoo.com.
From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. the next morning, the annual Youth Summit will be held at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center, 302 S. Maryland Ave. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. This is a free event that will offer free continental breakfast and lunch to all participants. There is a cash prize to the group with the most in attendance. Masks are required.
Traditionally, the Jazz in Downtown Plant City festival would kick off at the Robert W. Willaford Train Museum as soon as the Youth Summit wraps up. The next day, the Gospel Concert would draw another crowd for a group worship. However, with the ongoing pandemic the Plant City Black Heritage Celebration, Inc. choose to err on the side of caution and canceled both of the events. So this year, only the banquet/gala and the Youth Summit will be held.
For more information, contact Moody at the above listed phone number or email.
