On Saturday, February 24th, 2024, Black Bartow Events hosted the 3rd Annual Black History Parade and Pop-Up in downtown Cartersville. The parade featured floats, car clubs, area fraternities & sororities, dance teams, the Booker T. Washington High School Band, and the highly sought after, Jonesboro High School Majestic Marching Cardinals. Taking home the prize for best float was Jackson Park. The Jackson Park float told the story of the Jackson Family heritage and was chosen as the winner by the attendees.
The Jonesboro band was another fan favorite. Recently featured in the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime performance preview with Usher, there performance in the parade left everyone in awe. This year’s national theme for Black History Month is African Americans & the Arts, spanning the many impacts Black Americans have had on visual arts, music, cultural movements, and more. To celebrate this theme, the Booth Western Art Museum and Bartow History Museum offered free admission and special activities to parade participants and spectators throughout the day of the parade.
After the parade, the fun continued with a festival at Friendship Plaza that featured pop-up shops from locally owned and operated black businesses and other supporters of Black Bartow Events. Music was provided by DJ Ruckbeats and attendees were delighted with dance performances by Diamond Divas Majorettes and Oasis Pinxx . Vendors offered a variety of products including candles, calendars, art prints, custom made cups, custom made wood products, seafood crab boils, Paparazzi jewelry, gourmet popcorn, and so much more.
We appreciate the support we have received from the community, not only from Cartersville and Bartow County, but the surrounding counties as well. Due to this support, in just the third year, the route of the parade was extended to accommodate a larger number of floats and participants. Our mission at Black Bartow Events is to provide the community with quality entertainment that educates the community as a whole while celebrating diversity and black culture. Simply put, we are here to uplift, empower, and unite!
Special feature article and photos submitted by Mr. Trey Benham.
