The Heritage Project Heritage Fest 2024: African Americans and the Arts

Presenting Sponsor Bank of America

RSVP Here

Dates

February 4, 2024 at 3:00 PM

Venue

Thomson Plaza for the Arts

Run Time

4 hours

Parental Guide

All ages

We invite you to join us for our fifth annual Heritage Fest. The theme is African Americans and the Arts, spanning the many impacts Black Americans have had on visual arts, music, cultural movements and more.

Join us for an afternoon of free, fun-filled activities for the entire family. Enjoy performances by The W's featuring Johnny James Dr. J. and Live in Color! Sample delicious food from a variety of vendors and jam to beats pumping onto the dance floor by DJ Cardi.

This FREE community event was designed to spotlight, celebrate and amplify Pan-African artists in our community.

The fest will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. rain or shine.

Schedule of Events

3 p.m. - 7 p.m. (ongoing)
Books & Books book nook, live mural with Picardo, DJ Cardi and vendor marketplace

3 p.m.
Miami Carol City Middle & High School marching band kickoff

3:15 p.m.
Rap Improvisation Workshop With David Hepburn

3:30 p.m.
Musical Theater Choreography Workshop With T.M. Pride

4 p.m.
Afro-Venezuelan Rhythms and Dance Workshop With San Juan USA

4 p.m.
Depth of Identity II Tour curated by DVCAI founder Rosie Gordon Wallace and presented by the Arsht Center

4:30 p.m.
Tradisyon Lakou Lakay Haitian Folkloric Dance Class facilitated by Dr. W. "Yanui" César

5 p.m.
Egyptian Yoga With Shanna Woods

5:40 p.m.
Live in Color performance

6 p.m.
The W's featuring Johnny James a.k.a Dr. J. performance

7:30 p.m.
Post-Fest Concert! Live at Knight presents An Evening With Talib Kweli. Tickets start at $30.* For tickets and information, click here.

Tickets

Online ticket sales are no longer available for this performance. Tickets may still be available in person at the box office or by calling 305.949.6722.

Artists

The W's

The W’s. Whether giving you high energy entertainment or just vib’n out in an unplugged lounge setting, this husband & wife musical duo, will draw you in & give you a show! This combination of talent, The Watkins (hence the name, The W’s), is Chadwick Watkins, giving you soul, funk, rock vibes & Brittany Starr James-Watkins, the soul, pop, nu disco dancing queen. The W’s book as small as their duo up to a 10 piece band for corporate events, private parties, club dates, festivals and more. Their show consists of Top 40 old school Soul to Rock classics with their own twist to new school Dance hits. The W’s is gearing up for their upcoming EP release this June 2020; which is a mix of Pop/alternative/soul/future bass/retro/funk vibes. Their love between each other is on display in their lyrics, leaving you feeling ‘uplifted’ and ‘entertained’! Escape with The W’s, whether at your next private party or catching all their latest music and videos online. A for sure mood booster!
Johnny James Dr J

Johnny James Dr J, a Smooth jazz saxophonist, flutist, and vocalist from the USA, has no limits or borders. Johnny has performed in every corner of the globe and proves that music “is the common denominator for bringing people together around the globe.”

His latest single, Slippin (Stepper’s Mix) reached No.1 on Jazz Juice Radio in the United Kingdom during the latter months of 2021. For much of that summer, Slippin’ (Nigel Lowis Stepper’s Mix) and Your Love were among the most requested songs on such U.K radio outlets and programs as London Soul Radio, It’s a Soul Thing with Alan Irvine, and The Network Soul. Both Slippin’ and Your Love also climbed smooth jazz charts in Canada and the United States in 2021.

James is excited about the release of his next single "Foolish Heart", set to release on March 14, 2022 from the forthcoming album Breathing. The album will drop in the summer of 2022. Produced by Andre Brissette, Foolish Heart features the all-star musical talents of Paul Brown, Norman Brown and Greg Phillinganes.

James’ style of playing is influenced by the late saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. (The Godfather of Smooth Jazz), the iconic, late jazz alto saxophonist Julian “Cannonball” Adderley (a FAMU grad), and the funky late sax man Maceo from the James Brown band. Nevertheless, Dr. J has established his own sound and style of playing.

For more info on Johnny James Dr J, please follow him on all his socials.
DJ Cardi