Back to Angola Festival

This is a non-DGS event put on by Oaktree Community Outreach and Reflections of Manatee. DGS isn't involved in this event. It's being posted as something that may be of interest to members. If you go, you're on your own. Don't expect to see DGS organizers.

From approximately 1770 to 1821, a runaway slave settlement lived near the banks of the Manatee River in today's east Bradenton. It's estimated that as many as 700 escaped slaves lived between the Manatee River and Sarasota Bay.

In 1821, Andrew Jackson, the Governor of Florida, attacked the settlement, killing many, capturing and re-inslaving many more. Some managed to escape to the Everglades with the help of the Seminoles. Eventually they worked their way to Andros Island in the Bahamas where the descendants of the slaves live today.

Each year those descendants return to Manatee County to celebrate their return to Angola, the name of the runaway settlement. Held over two days, March 7th and 8th, the festival includes food and beverages for sale, a panel discussion about Angola, Wood carving and basket weaving demonstrations, live Junkanoo music from the Bahamas and a Junkanoo workshop.

This is a two-day event. Saturday is from 12-8 pm and Sunday is from 1-5 pm. Saturday, the official opening ceremony is from 1-2pm. 3-4pm is a panel discussion. 4-5 is a guided tour of Reflections of Manatee. Live music at 6pm. Sunday 1- 3-Music and Games. 3pm-4pm-Junkanoo music and dancers.

FREE ADMISSION. Food and beverages for sale. Many booths with an emphasis on local history and archaeology.