📖Eatonville library celebrates Black history, literary legend Zora Neale Hurston

EATONVILLE, Fla. – A local literary legend, Zora Neal Hurston, is being honored in her Central Florida hometown.

Each year, the town of Eatonville and the Association to Preserve Eatonville Community hosts the Zora! Fest honoring her life and legacy.

Some of the events leading up to the festival are encouraging community members to explore their local library.

One community member describing the Eatonville Branch of the Orange County Library System.

“The building looked kind of strange sitting out here by itself and I was curious, so I went inside. When I met the people who worked there, they were very friendly and professional. That’s when I got my first library card,” said Kurt Carrington about his experience more than 15 years ago.

The Eatonville branch is located at 200 E. Kennedy Blvd. in historic Eatonville.

Library cards are free, but are not just for checking out books. The Eatonville Branch offers a variety of services and resources like computer classes, film club, musical performances and more.

“I’ve taken healthy cooking classes here and exercise classes. When my grandson was struggling with math, I brought him to the library for tutoring,” said Carrington.

Eatonville branch manager Sara Brown said visitors can learn about one of the country’s first towns established by African Americans in 1887, just by gazing at the artwork on the walls.

“Right now we have an art exhibition by Jonathan Tyson who is a local artist. He was so excited to display his work and he wanted his artwork to really have meaning to the people who came here. Artwork depicting of the town of Eatonville,” said Carrington.

A literary great, Zora Neale Hurston, also grew up in Eatonville. Best known for her novel “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” Many of her books are available at her hometown library.

“To be able to highlight her books, and to also be able to share the history of the town with customers who come in... it’s what I love to do most,” said Brown.

The library thrives on community from adults to children.

VPK students from Hungerford Elementary visited the library to learn about Zora through story time and crafts like Zora’s Butterfly Garden activity.

“We come here monthly so the kids can be exposed to the library, hear stories, do different crafts... it helps with their vocabulary and their fine motor skills. It’s so important to get them out in the community that they are a part of,” said VPK Teacher Dionne Joseph.

The activity was led by a librarian, the students getting hands-on creating their own butterflies with crayons, coffee filters and pipe cleaners.

“They’re part of a community that has such a rich history already and so to help them become a part of that history will help with their pride as they continue to grow and do great things themselves,” said Joseph.

A library card at any branch of the Orange County Library System is free – they even waived all fines if you forgot to return an item in the past.

OCLS is partnering with Eatonville’s Zora! Festival to honor the legendary author through musical performances, movie showings and meet-the-author events at the Eatonville branch. Click HERE for a full list of events held at the branch.

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