Probably the most significant collector and interpreter of Southern, African American culture, Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960) is the dominant female voice of the Harlem Renaissance era. In her works, she celebrates her hometown, Eatonville, as representative of the dignity and beauty of rural Southern, African-American life and culture. A consummate storyteller, she brings to her readers an authenticity based on her primary research.
Zora has enjoyed a revival of interest since the 1970’s due in large part to the work of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker; Robert Hemenway, her literary biographer; and most recently, Valerie Boyd’s biography Wrapped in Rainbows.
Her legacy is a phenomenon which has undergone remarkable development and expansion in recent decades, embracing among others, topics in ethnic identity, social interaction, feminist theory and cultural continuity. Her unique insights into folklore, performance and creative expression have invited new interpretation and inspired emulation, while the corpus of her own works has grown as a result of research and discovery.
Fast Facts About the ZORA!® Festival
About The ZORA!® Festival
First presented in 1990, the ZORA!® Festival is a multi-day, multi-disciplinary, intergenerational event composed of public talks, museum exhibitions, theatrical productions, arts education programming, and a 3-day Outdoor Festival of the Arts. The event takes place primarily in Eatonville, Florida (10 miles north of Orlando) and throughout Orange County.
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Who Organizes ZORA!® Festival?
The organizer of ZORA!® Festival is the Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community, Inc. (P.E.C.), a 501 (c)3 historic preservation and arts organization.
What Are The ZORA!® Festival’s Goals ?
- To celebrate the life and work of Zora Neale Hurston
- To celebrate the historic significance of Eatonville
- To celebrate the cultural contributions which people of African ancestry have made to the United States and to world culture
How Many People Typically Would Visit ZORA!® Festival ?
Each year tens of thousands visit the ZORA!® Festival
Since 1990, well over 1.5M people have attended this event.
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ZORA NEALE HURSTON BIOGRAPHY
CELEBRITIES WHO HAVE APPEARED AT THE ZORA!® FESTIVAL
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