1619Fest Orlando! Celebrating Black History Month
Sat Feb 12, 7:00 AM - Sun Feb 13, 6:00 PM

Join The Equity Council Corp. and the community of West Winter Park on February 11th, 12th & 13th, 2022, for the 3rd Annual Black History Month Celebration: 1619Fest Orlando in Historic Hannibal Square!

Now, in its 3rd year of "writing a new history," 1619Fest Orlando is jam-packed with "edutainment" as we examine 400 years as Africans in the Diaspora in America. For information about the festival schedule of events, please go to www.1619FestOrlando.com—vendor and sponsorship opportunities are available.

All the proceeds from 1619Fest Orlando, Rebel Run 5K, The SOKO Marketplace, and our festival merchandising will go towards our December 2022 trip to Rwanda, Africa, with our educational partner Birthright Africa.

1619Fest Orlando Day 1
Friday, February 11, 2022
642 W. New England Avenue
Winter Park, Florida 32789
On View: February 11–June 4, 2022
Location: Hannibal Square Heritage Center | Visiting Exhibition Gallery
Opening Reception: Friday, February 11th, 7–9 pm
Live entertainment from past festivals will include: Marvin Burnett of New Generation Branches Steel Orchestra | Special Appearance by StoryTeller Gennia Holder as "Alexandria T. Wolf"
DJ services provided by Flat Foot Entertainment
Refreshments will be served
Kicking off this year’s 1619 festivities, "Maafa to Freedom" Surviving, Thriving, Resilience!” starts with an evening of art at the Hannibal Square Heritage Center; our exclusive event sponsor. This event will showcase several of Central Florida's top artists in an exhibit entitled: Community Collage: Artists from The Hannibal Square Heritage Center Folk & Urban Art Festival. The exhibition opening reception is Friday, February 11th, 2022, from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.


1619Fest Orlando Day 2
Saturday, February 12, 2022
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park
1050 W. Morse Boulevard in Winter Park
7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Our two-day Black History Month Celebration continues on Saturday, February 12th, 2022, at 7:00 a.m., with our Rebel Run 5K at 1050 W. Morse Boulevard in Winter Park, FL with a 3.5 running path through the historic African American community of Hannibal Square.
Rebel Run early birds can register online through Eventbrite to run in the Rebel Run 5K. Beginning in 2021, the Red, Black & Green Rebel Run 5K was added to the 1619Fest to pay homage to Hannibal Barca, esteemed as North Africa's most famous war general and the namesake for Winter Park’s Hannibal Square. The Rebel Run Race is for runners and walkers of any age or pace! Race registration fees cover your race registration, Rebel Run bib, and medals for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers. Water and hydrations stations will be along the route. The race starts at 7:30 a.m. sharp. Race Registration begins at 6:00 a.m. So, get ready to let your inner rebel run free!
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
After the race, enjoy light refreshments and a free cool-down yoga session sponsored by, 2004 American Track and Field Olympic Gold Medalist and Certified Yoga Instructor, Ms. Moushaumi Robinson. The yoga session starts at 9 a.m. in the first field at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park. After the cool-down with Ms. Robinson, stay and enjoy the 1619 Fest Orlando Health and Wellness Fair. Enjoy connecting with Health and Wellness professionals of color all-day and enjoy a full day of festivities with live music, family, and group play sponsored by Rene's Dynamic Sports Center. Please see our list below for the following family play activities:
10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (Group Exercise) – All Ages
12:00 p.m. to 1 p.m. (Squid-ish Games) – All ages, 2 Teams
2:00p.m. to 3:00p.m. (Kick Ball) – All Ages, 2 Teams


1619Fest Orlando Day 3
Sunday, February 13th, 2022
721 W New England Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789
12 noon to 6 p.m.
On Sunday, February 13th, 2022, come celebrate The SOKO Marketplace’s 3rd anniversary! The SOKO Marketplace is Hannibal Square’s economic empowerment engine for businesses owned and operated by people of color that takes place at Shady Park weekly. Enjoy musical performances and vendors all-day as we celebrate the restoration of Black business to the historic African American Neighborhood of Hannibal Square, in Winter Park, FL, founded in 1881.
At 1:00 p.m., join us for a special panel discussion "Maafa to Freedom" Surviving, Thriving, Resilience!" – the discussion will cover the importance of remembering our collective experiences and defining our lived experience by African terminology. How do we regain our collective identity? How do we heal as a people? How are we adjusting to our current environments? Participants will include Dr. Kevin Washington and distinguished guests.
Kevin Washington (Mwata Kairi), Ph.D., is an Afrikan-Centered psychologist licensed in Florida and Washington, DC. He has taught/lectured at several colleges nationally and internationally.

For information about our festival's schedule of activities, please see our website at https://www.equitycouncilcorp.org/1619, or check out our social media pages on Instagram and Facebook @1619FestOrlando and @rebelrun for a list of ongoing festival activities.


All the proceeds from 1619Fest Orlando Events, Rebel Run 5K, The SOKO Marketplace, and our festival merchandising will go towards our December 2022 trip to Rwanda, Africa, with our educational partner Birthright AFRICA. For more information about our educational tour or additional ways to donate, visit www.equitycouncilcorp.org/birthright-africa for more info.

This festival is Open and Free to the public. However, some events require ticketing; tickets can be purchased through this Eventbrite page.

Come together for Black History Month and embrace this year's 1619Fest Orlando theme "Maafa to Freedom" Surviving, Thriving, Resilience!