The Baltimore County African American Cultural Festival (BCAACF) is preparing to host its 21’st annual celebration of Baltimore County’s rich African American culture. The festival will be held on Saturday September 16, 2017, from 9:30am until 8:00pm on the streets surrounding “The Historic Towson Courthouse” complex. The event will feature a variety of entertainment, vendors and exhibits for the entire family. This year features two stages with live performances by After 7, Eric Roberson, Kayla Waters, and many other talented local and regional artists.
The festival is proud to be awarding scholarships to five deserving Baltimore County high school graduates. This continues a 20-year tradition of providing over $100,000 in scholarships to African American students in Baltimore County. Also BCAACF will be having its fourth Hero/Shero Awards, honoring men and women of the military for their outstanding service.
This Event will kickoff with the Education Village Program from 9:30 AM to 11:30 PM for students K thru 12, college students and their parents. The Education Village will provide a platform to discuss issues that affect the African American community and exhibits that provide information and assistance with education services. The festival officially runs from 12:00pm until 8:pm. Other attractions at this year’s festival include: Health and Wellness exhibits that will offer information and health screenings to promote healthy living. The Children’s Champion Zone will feature a variety of vendors and exhibits feature music, arts, and exhibitions by the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, National Aquarium, Walter's Art Museum, Maryland Science Center, Port Discovery Children’s Museum and more.
In addition, The Historical Village will host the 21st Annual Historic Bus Tour on Saturday, September 9, 2017, to the historic African American community of Turner Station located in Dundalk. The tour will feature the rich history of the community and highlight the story of Henrietta Lacks and her stolen contribution to medical research that resulted in the development of the first polio vaccine. On the day of the festival, the Historical Village will feature displays from the acclaimed historian, Lewis Diggs’ latest books on African Americans from Baltimore County who served in the Civil War, World War I, World War II and the Korean War.
The Baltimore County African American Cultural Festival was founded in 1996 by Maryland State Delegate Adrienne Jones and County Executive Dutch Ruppersburger, as a platform to inspire produce and preserve the rich history of African-American culture in Baltimore County. County Executive Kevin Kamenetz continues to support the Festival by providing County resources to assure a successful event. The festival highlights local and national entertainers, businesses of all sizes with over 10,000 attendees. The festival also raises funds to support charitable programs and scholarships for Baltimore County’s African-American community.
