Southeastern North Carolina African American Heritage Festival

The Wilmington Journal, the voice and mirror of Wilmington’s African American community since 1927, will present the Annual Southeastern North Carolina African American Heritage Festival in conjunction with Urban Promotions. The two-day event will celebrate Wilmington’s rich African American culture and history. This year’s theme is “Unity In The Community”.

The SENC African American Heritage Festival kicks off on Friday evening with an invitation only reception for sponsors, elected officials and other guests followed by a night of jazz music and dancing at a local club.

Urban Promotions will kick off the Festival at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday with its Annual Teen Summit event which reaches and mentors hundreds of youth. At noon, center stage will open with a ribbon cutting and pouring of libations ceremony. Thousands will enjoy live entertainment provided by national recording artists and local talent, have the opportunities to win prizes, buy food and merchandise from vendors and receive information from exhibitors. The Kid’s Pavilion will have activities for children, storytelling, magicians, clowns and much more. One radio stations will have remote broadcasts from the site.

On Sunday, the SENC African American Heritage Festival will begin at 2:00 p.m. with regional and local gospel acts, children groups and others performing, along with a second day of the Kid’s Pavilion and vendor area. For the first time, the Festival will hold a “Battle of the Choirs” competition between gospel choirs from surrounding areas.

The Wilmington Journal will distribute a special Festival Events Guide with a schedule of events, vendor location map and historic information.

For information on being a vendor, exhibitor, sponsor or performer at the Southeastern North Carolina African American Heritage Festival call 910-762-5502 or email [email protected].