Martin Luther King Jr. Day festival returns to Sharon Sheffield Park

Ebonee Burrell, The News Herald
·2 min read
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LYNN HAVEN — A local organization that advocates for civil rights and urban revitalization is gearing up for it 35th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day festival.

A-CURE (Advisory Committee for Urban Revitalization Equity) and the city of Lynn Haven are partnering for this year’s festival, taking place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday at Sharon Sheffield Park at 901 Ohio Ave. The public is invited to attend the free event.

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There will be live entertainment throughout the day from local music groups and organizations, including appearances by Dance Kraze, Konkrete Soul, the Corey Smith Band and DJ East West Connections. Additionally, vendors of food trucks, arts and crafts and local businesses will be on-site during the event.

Starting at noon, Bay County officials will lead a welcome program with speeches and remarks from local leaders.

Sharon Sheffield Park, in Lynn Haven, hosted a Martin Luther King Festival Monday, January 17, 2022. Dance Kraze Diamonds performed for the crowd at the festival.
Sharon Sheffield Park, in Lynn Haven, hosted a Martin Luther King Festival Monday, January 17, 2022. Dance Kraze Diamonds performed for the crowd at the festival.

“We started this festival because we wanted an engaging and entertaining way to get kids involved with the holiday since they are out of school,” A-CURE chairman Myron Hines said. “And every year since, we have always had a great turnout and have seen the event grow from hundreds to thousands.”

For more than three decades, A-CURE has held a memorial march and festival on the weekend of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. However, the march hasn't taken place since 2020 because of factors such as the pandemic and not enough members in the organization in the last few years.

Sharon Sheffield Park, in Lynn Haven, hosted a Martin Luther King Festival Monday, January 17, 2022. Charlotte Marshall, secretary for ACURE, the Advisory Committee for Urban Revitalization Equity, helps Edward Shivers and Ella Swain with their shirt selection at the festival. ACURE was the sponsor of the festival.
Sharon Sheffield Park, in Lynn Haven, hosted a Martin Luther King Festival Monday, January 17, 2022. Charlotte Marshall, secretary for ACURE, the Advisory Committee for Urban Revitalization Equity, helps Edward Shivers and Ella Swain with their shirt selection at the festival. ACURE was the sponsor of the festival.

The grassroots organization has been advocating for civil rights since its inception in 1983. Hines said it is the group's goal to get the youth more involved with hopes they will carry the tradition for decades longer.

“We’ve seen thousands in attendance for the march, but in the last few years, the participation has been waning and it’s been hard to get the younger generation to carry on our fight under our name,” Hines said. “Unfortunately, since our members are aging, we may have to change our focus and spend more time on our youth for them to carry on this tradition.”

The organizers at A-CURE are still looking for entertainers and booths for this year’s event. If anyone wishes to participate in entertainment, contact Myron Hines at 850-276-1097. For information regarding booth space, contact George Hines Jr. at 850-624-6977. To pre-order T-shirts, contact Charlotte Marshall at 850-866-1383.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Festival returns to Lynn Haven