ZORA! Festival 2013 has “HATitude”

Party in your finest chapeau at the Central Florida event

By Davidson Taylor

Roll out your bowlers. Dust off your derbies. Ready your bonnets. The HATitude Party is back for the 24th annual Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities (ZORA! Festival), which runs from Jan. 26 to Feb. 3, in Historic Eatonville and throughout Orange County.

ZORA! Festival celebrates the life and work of 20th century writer, folklorist and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston, her hometown, Eatonville, the nation’s oldest incorporated African-American municipality, and the cultural contributions people of African ancestry have made to the United States and the world. Activities include live concerts, educational seminars, heritage tours, museum exhibitions and an Outdoor Festival of the Arts.

HATitude was added to the festival in 2004 and became an instant festival favorite. This fun event, which celebrates Zora Neale Hurston’s penchant for wearing hats, provides an opportunity for participants to be “the stars.”

The light-hearted luncheon is a fast-spaced event, where the focus is on food, fashion and having a good time. Whether you are 5 or 95, a woman or a man, if you want to come to HATitude, you need to know, “If you are not wearing a hat, you can’t get in!”

HATitude will be held 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, at Crowne Plaza Orlando Downtown, 304 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando. Ticket prices vary by age, and whether they are purchased in advance or at the door.

Attracting tens of thousands of locals and tourists to Orange County, ZORA! Festival, presents an impressive roster of arts, humanities and cultural programming including the transmedia art project “Question Bridge: Black Males,” at the Zora Neale Hurston Museum of Fine Arts, the screening at the Enzian Theater, of the independent film, “We Still Live Here – As Nutayunean,” written and produced by Native American Anne Makepeace, in addition to public talks, panel discussions, workshops and concerts.

ZORA! Festival 2013 culminates with a three-day weekend Outdoor Festival of the Arts, featuring children’s activities, including the ZORA! Literacy Initiative; A Health Village featuring “Fabulous Foods” Demonstrations by Celebrity Chef Marvin Woods and other health-related offerings; an African Diaspora Pavilion; Guest Artist-in-Residence Charles Bibbs; Center Stage featuring local, regional and international acts; an International Marketplace; The ZORA! Food Trucks Stop and much, much more.

Admission to the Outdoor Festival of the Arts, Feb. 1-3, is free for ages 17 and younger. Adults will be able to enter the Outdoor Festival of the Arts with a cash donation.

For additional information on ZORA! Festival 2013 events visit www.zorafestival.org or call 407-647-3307.