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Eatonville honors, celebrates 135 years with Founders Day Festival

Grammy-nominated group After 7 performing

Eatonville, Florida, is the oldest black-incorporated municipality in the United States. It was incorporated in 1887 (Robert Brown, WKMG-TV)

EATONVILLE, Fla. – Eatonville is celebrating 135 years with its Founders Day Festival this weekend.

The town of Eatonville was incorporated in 1887 and the two-day festival “pays homage to the Town of Eatonville and its impact nationally on the Chitlin’ Circuit performers who performed during segregation and Jim Crow time periods,” organizers said.

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“The Town of Eatonville was one of few places many Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famers could perform and find housing during segregation and Jim Crow Law periods of time. Attendees will get to experience the essence of African American culture and music at (its) finest,” the event website said.

The Founders Day Festival will take place Saturday and Sunday, themed “Tribute to the Culture” and “Southern Soul Sunday” respectively. There will be several artists performing, including Grammy-nominated group After 7.

To check out the groups performing and on what days, click here.

Tickets are available for purchase to attend. Click here to buy tickets.


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