TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – To close out Black History Month, thousands of people gathered Saturday at the Will Packer Amphitheater on the campus of Florida A&M University for the ninth annual Harambee Festival.
The event, hosted by FAMU, celebrates community and culture. “Harambee” is a Swahili word meaning “all pull together,” and organizers said the theme of the festival centers on unity.
The festival was historically held at Cascades Park in Tallahassee, but organizers moved it to campus this year. They said the change gives the broader community an opportunity to see what the university has to offer while bringing the celebration closer to students and alumni.
FAMU alumnus Elijah Rutland, who graduated in 2022, said he appreciated the new location.
“It’s been great being here at the festival to celebrate being Black,” Rutland said. “I’m glad it’s at FAMU because I feel like it’s a lot more personal and a lot more familiar. It’s kind of a smaller space so people are more connected, I feel like. I love FAMU. I’m glad I went here and I’m glad people can come and celebrate.”
Food trucks and vendors traveled from across the region, including Atlanta and Tennessee, offering a variety of food and merchandise.
University organizers said about 2,000 people attended the event.
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