The Tenth Annual Harry T & Harriette V. Moore Heritage Festival of the Arts and Humanities is scheduled for April 23-27, 2013. The festival events will be held at various venues in Brevard County and will encompass (4) days of educational awareness, cultural celebration and appreciation of the Moores civil rights legacy and their contributions to the early civil rights movement as well as others who contributed to the fight for freedom and equality.
The festival events begin on Tuesday, April 23, with the “Evening With Evangeline” activity featuring a dramatic performance by Mr. Barry White, one of the area’s most noted character performers. This event is Co-Sponsored by the Florida Historical Society and will be held at the Florida Historical Society building, located at 435 Brevard Avenue in historic Cocoa Village. Admission is free but donations are greatly encouraged. The program begins at 7:00pm.
On Thursday, April 25th, the first Educational Symposium sessions will be presented at Brevard Community College-Titusville Campus from 9:00am- Noon. Students will be exposed to a series of noted scholars who will present topics related to civil rights and cultural history. Students will also be taken on a tour of the Harry T. & Harriette V. Moore Park & Museum.
On Friday, April 26th, the second Educational Symposium sessions will be presented at the Brevard Community College’s Melbourne Campus from 9:00am-Noon. Students will be exposed to a series of noted scholars who will present topics related to civil rights and cultural history.
The festival’s Gala Awards Banquet will be held Friday night April 26th., at the Holiday Inn Express – Space Coast Convention Center, 301 Tucker Lane, Cocoa, located at the intersection of Hwy 520 and I-95. A ticket is required for admission to this semi-formal affair. Tickets are $50.00 each and reserved corporate tables are available. This year’s invited keynote speaker will be Mr. Ben Jealous, president of the national NAACP. The Moore Freedom Award and the student winners of the Moore Festival Essay Competition will be presented at this event.
On Saturday, April 27th, the festival events conclude with the family-oriented Moore Street Festival held at the Moore Memorial Park and Museum, 2180 Freedom Ave., Mims where visitors can enjoy Arts/Crafts and Food vendors, a Health Fair, Children’s Play Village, Musical entertainment by local and regional recording artists along with local talented youth groups participating in the ever popular Youth Gospel Fest. The street festival is an all day event beginning at 9:00am and continuing until 7:00pm. Applications for vendors are posted on this web site for easy download.
As one of Central Florida’s premier historical and cultural festivals, the Moore Festival events are designed to attract various age groups and the participation of families from across the county and throughout the state. Families can enjoy the lively outdoor street festival with its arts and crafts, enjoy delicious food and drink, watch cultural demonstrations, learn how to improve and have access to better health, allow the children to play in a wholesome and safe environment and be entertained by talented performing groups.
More than sixty years ago, Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore were pioneering advocates for voting rights, equal educational facilities, and equal pay for black and white teachers and fought for justice for victims of police brutality and mob lynchings. Harry was killed and his wife Harriette mortally wounded when a bomb was set off under their home on Christmas night 1951, which was also their 25th. Wedding anniversary. No one has ever been officially charged with their murders.
For information on the latest investigation into the Moores deaths visit:http://www.myfloridalegal.com/.
