African American Festival a hot spot this weekend

By MARLY KOSINSKI Tribune Chronicle
WARREN — ‘‘It’s hot,’’ was the general consensus of people attending the 23rd annual Trumbull County African-American Achievers Association Homecoming Festival on Friday.

Despite the 90-degree heat, crowds of people walked around Courthouse Square Park enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of the annual festival. Smoke billowed from several grills, where cooks were busy preparing racks of ribs.

‘‘The trick is in the sauce,’’ one cook said as he used a pair of tongs to turn over a slab of meaty delight. A line of people waited anxiously for their chance to taste one of his creations.

Some festival-goers sought shade underneath the park’s trees, but others basked in the sunlight, setting up chairs at the corner of West Market Street and North Park Avenue. One woman waved at passers-by, telling them to have a ‘‘blessed day.’’

Not content to merely ride out the heat, a group of boys was having a water gun fight, and one of them broke away from the group to spray people as they came down the large inflatable slide. One little girl with colorful beads in her hair squealed as the cool water splashed her legs as she came down.

The festival, which continues from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. today and Sunday, features rides, games, food, arts and crafts and music. A parade will begin at noon today.

The festival is held in memory of Van Williams, who founded the Trumbull County African American Achievers Association in 1985 and the the Achievers Hall of Fame and Festival in 1987. Williams died in 1993.

Williams was a community activist and directed the project to rehabilitate a six-unit Westlawn building for low-income and homeless families.

Organizers said the mission of the association is to promote education by preserving the heritage and culture, promote ethnic homecoming events, to lessen neighborhood tensions and to promote brotherhood, strong commitment to education and provide scholarships for Trumbull County students.

Admission is free, and all proceeds benefit local charities and youth programs.



mkosinski@tribtoday.com