By Justin George, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
TAMPA — Over the past few years, the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival has held events in the shadow of Raymond James Stadium behind the tall trees that line Al Lopez Park.
While centrally located, Al Lopez isn't the city's most accessible or visible park. Which is why the festival is moving downtown this year to Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, which reopened a year ago after a $42 million facelift.
The shift in settings is the latest example of the 1-year-old park becoming Tampa's main meeting place, transforming the city's core and culture by giving events such as the Heritage Festival more exposure.
"I'm really, really happy about that because it makes the festival more visible," festival chairwoman Ruby Jackson said.
The festival, which includes more than 20 events in and around Tampa, begins Wednesday.
On ...