FREE Leimert Park Village African Art & Music Festival expands to the street!

LOS ANGELES - Aug. 8, 2014 - PRLog -- LOS ANGELES, August 8, 2014 - The 6^th Annual Leimert Park Village African Art and Music Festival is set to delight and entertain over 15,000 people, Labor Day Weekend, August 30, 31, and September 1, 2014 from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, in Historic Leimert Park Village, the epicenter for African American culture in Los Angeles.  This free, family-friendly event will take place on Degnan Blvd. between 43^rd Street and 43^rd Place in the culturally rich and ethnically vibrant shopping district known for its weekly Sunday African drum circle and monthly Art Walk.

Over 20 live performances of jazz, blues, reggae, R&B, neo-soul, African drumming, spoken-word, comedy and dance will be presented along with the festivals’ four signature programs:  The 4th Annual Raw 2 the Roots Hair, Fashion & Beauty Show; Sankofa Sunday, a celebration and remembrance of those that have transitioned in the past year; Leimert Park After Dark and The 3rd Annual Leimert Park Group Legacy Awards hosted by Emmy-nominated actress Millena Gay.  And, new this year, the audience will lindy hop, twist, watusi, hully gully, cha cha and more during Harlem Dance-A-Palooza™ that will teach the top dances of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.

A Children’s Village will offer fun, interactive and age-appropriate activities that appeal to children ages 2-13 that includes entertainment, arts and crafts, storytelling and face painting by Auntie Joyce.  Youths, ages 13-19, will enjoy their own Teens Territory that was produced by-teens-for-teens where they selected the bands, dancers, spoken word artists and other activities.

Discerning shoppers, art collectors and bargain hunters will be delighted by the eclectic boutiques and stores along Degan Blvd. and the lively and vibrant Village Marketplace stretching from 43^rd Street to 43^rd place that will feature more than 60 fine artisans and craft vendors that will display and sell original paintings, ceramics, jewelry, quilts, wearable art, authentic African wood carvings, fair trade purses, shoes and hats from Kenya, handmade soaps, body butters, oils and dozens of other unique products from vendors that travel from all regions of California and from out of state.

Foodies will have their taste buds tantalized in the expanded food court that has eight new food vendors selling freshly prepared ethnic foods from Ghana, Senegal and Jamaica, to BBQ, seafood, soul food, salads, hot dogs, and hamburgers. Specialty dessert vendors will offer cobblers, cupcakes, cookies, funnel cakes, kettle corn and icees.

The event is free and open to the public, ADA friendly, and easily accessible by public transportation.  For additional information or for sponsorship, vendor or volunteer opportunities: email: leimertparkfestival [at] gmail [dot] com, call: 323.596.0955 or visit: www.leimertparkvillagefestival.com.

About The Leimert Park Village Group

The Leimert Park Village Group is under the fiscal sponsorship of Community Build, Inc.  Their mission is to promote culture, commerce and community in Leimert Park and surrounding communities through programs and activities that focus on health/wellness, economics/business, arts/culture, literacy/education and leadership/mentorship.  Their signature program is The Annual Leimert Park Village African Art & Music Festival held every Labor Day Weekend.

The Festival is co-sponsored by Los Angeles City Council President Herb J. Wesson, 10th District Council Member; LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, 2^nd District, Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, Community Build, Union Bank and other corporate sponsors and local businesses.