Goombay Festival Set Aug 27-29 in Asheville

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by Linda Sutton, THE CHARLOTTE POST

Up in the mountains, travelers can find fresh cool air, breathtaking scenery, and many opportunities for artistic expression.

Asheville, known for it¹s many art and craft festivals, as well as cultural festivals, is gearing up for a cultural explosion. The YMI Cultural Center, Asheville¹s African and African American cultural center, along with Asheville Parks and Recreation, will be hosting its 17th annual Goombay festival next weekend, Aug. 27-29. The kickoff will be on Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the City/County Plaza in downtown Asheville and will continue with a weekend of parades, entertainment, food, dance, drumming, and outdoor worship.

The Goombay festival is modeled after the Bermudan Islands¹ annual holiday where slaves were allowed to be free for one day to do as they wished. Today it is a family and community celebration of African and Caribbean cultures and shares its legacy with the entire region.

Goombay is Asheville¹s second largest festival, boasting an average attendance of 35,000 people during the three-day event. Activities for this year¹s festival will include a parade of drummers on Saturday, while an outdoor worship service and Gospel Jubilee highlight Sunday¹s activities. A children¹s village will offer arts and crafts, as well as storytelling. Free Spirit Stilt Dancers and Darrell Rose will also perform at the festival, which will be . on Eagle and Market streets in downtown Asheville, in front of the YMI¹s location. For additional information, contact Oralene Simmons, at the YMI Cultural Center, (828) 252 4614.