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By Times Staff Writer
Published January 18, 2008

Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival: Today marks the beginning of a 10-day cultural celebration full of flavorful heritage and infectious pride. The event features local and national speakers, musicians, artists, poets and craftspeople. The festival, which begins the weekend before the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, aims to promote diversity and cultural sensitivity, while at the same time raising awareness of African and African-American culture and history. Below are a few of the featured events. For a full list of events, call 251-8685 or visit tampablackheritage.org.

Heritage Gala: featuring Ray, Goodman & Brown and Kam Showers. Semi-formal attire is recommended. 7 p.m. today. Tickets are $60 per person, $100 per couple and $600 for a table of eight. Pepin Distributing, 4121 N 50th St., Tampa.

Heritage Street Festival: featuring a 50-million-pound weight loss challenge and 2K walk or run. Registration at 7:30 a.m. Walk/run starts at 8:30 a.m. Giveaways and health screenings from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday; open to the public, free. Al Lopez Park, 4810 N Himes Ave., Tampa.

Skating Event, Opening Night Soul Roll Invitational: Music will be performed by DJ Spin of Los Angeles. Midnight to 4 a.m., Saturday. Guests must be 18 or older. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. United Skates, 5121 N Armenia Ave., Tampa. Contact Saletta Coleman, (727) 564-3357 or go to getyoursk8on.com.

Heritage Street Festival - Jazz Day: Walter Beasley and local artist BK Jackson will perform. Steffon Vann will host. Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday; open to the public, free. AL Lopez Park, 4810 N Himes Ave., Tampa.

Skating Event, Sunday Night Soul Roll: Main event with music performed by DJ Wiz of Baltimore, MD. 9 p.m. Sunday to 2 a.m. Guests must be 18 or older. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. United Skates, 5121 N Armenia Ave., Tampa. Contact Saletta Coleman, (727) 564-3357 or go to getyoursk8on.com.

Tampa Organization of Black Affairs Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Breakfast: Dr. Deforest B. Soaries Jr. will be the guest speaker. 6:45 a.m., Monday. Tickets are $25 and will not be sold at the door. Hyatt Regency Downtown, 211 N Tampa St., Tampa. For tickets, call (813) 874-8622 or visit www.toba-network.org.

12 Angry Men: A screening of the film, 12 Angry Men, starring Courtney B. Vance and Ossie Davis. 12 Angry Men is a 1997 television film directed by William Friedkin, based on the play 12 Angry Men and the 1957 film version. Thursday 6:30 p.m.; Tampa Theatre, Tampa; $2. Call 274-8286.

2nd Annual Tampa Blues Festival: featuring Shirley Brown, Sir Charles Jones, Bobby Rush, Marvin Sease, Theodis Ealey, Latimore, Mel Waiters, Bobby Blue Bland and Floyd Taylor. 6 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 27. Tickets are $42.50 and $49.50. St. Pete Times Forum, 401 Channelside Dr., Tampa.

Other organizations are also celebrating the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. A few of their events are as follows:

The International Bazaar will host the third annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Celebration Sunday. The event is free and starts at 3 p.m. Live performances will feature the African Kuumba Dancers and Drummers, Native American flute player and hoop dancer Kevin Locke and many other percussionists and dancers. Musical celebrations will be followed by a round table discussion on peace, civil rights, race unity and freedom. Guest speakers will include The Lost Boys of Darfur, Roberto Cezair who will give an interpretation of Dr. King's speech, and many more. An international buffet will be available for $5 per plate. Children will be entertained with a program hosted by Dr. Sybil Johnson featuring arts and craft, music, dance and storytelling. For more information, call 770-0870.

An interfaith memorial service in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be held Monday, at Beulah Baptist Institutional Church, 1006 W Cypress St. The service starts at 4:30 p.m. and it will be followed by a free ethnic feast at 6 p.m. For more information, call the church at 251-3382.

Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival

Today marks the beginning of a 10-day cultural celebration full of flavorful heritage and pride. The event features local and national speakers, musicians, artists, poets and craftspeople. The festival, which begins the weekend before the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, aims to promote diversity and cultural sensitivity, while at the same time raising awareness of African and African-American culture and history. Below are a few of the featured events. For a full list of events, call 251-8685 or visit tampablackheritage.org.

Heritage gala: Featuring Ray, Goodman & Brown and Kam Showers. Semiformal attire is recommended. 7 p.m. today. Tickets are $60 per person, $100 per couple and $600 for a table of eight. Pepin Distributing, 4121 N 50th St., Tampa.

Heritage Street Festival: Featuring a 50-million-pound weight loss challenge and 2K walk or run. Registration at 7:30 a.m. Walk/run starts at 8:30. Giveaways and health screenings from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday. Al Lopez Park, 4810 N Himes Ave., Tampa.

Opening night Soul Roll Invitational skating event: Music will be performed by DJ Spin of Los Angeles. Midnight to 4 a.m. Saturday. Guests must be 18 or older. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. United Skates, 5121 N Armenia Ave., Tampa. Contact Saletta Coleman, (727) 564-3357 or go to getyoursk8on.com.

Sunday Night Soul Roll: Main event with music performed by DJ Wiz of Baltimore. 9 p.m. Sunday to 2 a.m.

Heritage Street Festival, Jazz Day: Walter Beasley and local artist BK Jackson will perform. Steffon Vann will host. Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Al Lopez Park, 4810 N Himes Ave., Tampa.

Tampa Organization of Black Affairs Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Breakfast: Dr. Deforest B. Soaries Jr. will be the guest speaker. 6:45 a.m. Monday. Tickets are $25 and will not be sold at the door. Hyatt Regency Downtown, 211 N Tampa St., Tampa. For tickets, call (813) 874-8622 or visit www.toba-network.org.

'12 Angry Men': A screening of 12 Angry Men, starring Courtney B. Vance and Ossie Davis. This is a 1997 television film directed by William Friedkin, based on the play and the 1957 film by the same name. 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Tampa Theatre, Tampa; $2. Call 274-8286.

Second Annual Tampa Blues Festival: Featuring Shirley Brown, Sir Charles Jones, Bobby Rush, Marvin Sease, Theodis Ealey, Latimore, Mel Waiters, Bobby Blue Bland and Floyd Taylor. 6 p.m. Jan. 27. Tickets are $42.50 and $49.50. St. Pete Times Forum, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa.

Other organizations celebrating the holiday

A few of their events are as follows:

- The International Bazaar will host the third annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Celebration, a free event at 3 p.m. Sunday. Live performances will feature the African Kuumba Dancers and Drummers, Native American flute player and hoop dancer Kevin Locke and other percussionists and dancers. Musical celebrations will be followed by a discussion on peace, civil rights, race unity and freedom. Guest speakers will include the Lost Boys of Darfur; Roberto Cezaircq,, who will give an interpretation of Dr. King's speech; and many others. An international buffet will be available for $5 per plate. Children will be entertained with a program hosted by Dr. Sybil Johnson featuring arts and craft, music, dance and storytelling. For more information, call 770-0870.

- An interfaith memorial service in remembrance of Dr. King will be Monday at Beulah Baptist Institutional Church, 1006 W Cypress St. The service starts at 4:30 p.m. and will be followed by a free ethnic feast at 6. For more information, call the church at 251-3382.

[Last modified January 17, 2008, 23:28:36]