Travel back in time by embracing rich Florida cultures this New Year. Eatonville is proud to host the 31st Annual Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities from January 25 through February 2, 2020. This is a multi-day event celebrating art, education, and history of Eatonville—one of the first self-governing all-black communities in America. The Zora! Festival is in honor of Zora Neale Hurston’s contribution to African-American culture.
Who is Zora Neale Hurston?
Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960) was an influential female voice during the Harlem Renaissance. She grew up in Eatonville as a young child and later on received a scholarship to attend Barnard College. Hurston then attended Columbia University to study anthropology and African American folklore.
Hurston was an author in African-American literature, an anthropologist, and a filmmaker sharing stories of 20th-century racial struggles. Some of her most popular works are her novel Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937), and her folklore collections Mules and Men (1935) and Tell My Horse (1939). When she passed away, she was poor and buried in an unmarked grave. A decade later, several members of the literary community revived her legacy. The goal of the Zora! Festival is to celebrate her life and all the other contributors to African-American culture.
Event Details
The main event takes place at Zora’s Village near The Hurston Museum. There will be museum exhibitions, heritage booths, art programming, speakers, performances, and a 3-Day Outdoor Festival of the Arts.
Although some programs require paid admission, most events are free with pre-registration. The 3-Day Outdoor Festival of the Arts takes place 10 minutes north of downtown Orlando. The festival is free to the public on January 31 and free for students K-12 on February 1 and 2.
Make Your Celebration a Vacation
Choose to stay close to the Zora! Festival by booking your room at the Rosen Inn. The Rosen Inn provides unique amenities and convenient access to Orlando’s attractions. Make your cultural celebration a vacation to remember. Call Rosen Inn to reserve your room at 407-996-4444 or click “Check Room Availability” at the top of the page.
