Fun, food, education at annual Sistrunk Historical Festival

FORT LAUDERDALE — Education mixed with fun, music, food, and sunshine Saturday at the 42nd annual Sistrunk Historical Festival. Oh, and don’t forget strengthening the ties that bind, which is another key element of the annual gathering on Fort Lauderdale’s historic Sistrunk Boulevard, and another reason people return year after year.

“The camaraderie and the friendships,” Anthony Avery said when asked about the best things about the festival. “Friends you haven’t seen in a long time.” Verna Johnson, who was among the thousands in attendance, agreed.

“It looked like they opened the sky up and everybody fell in,” she said with a laugh.

The daylong event on Sistrunk Boulevard, which was closed to traffic, started with a parade at 9 a.m., and continued with a 5k run and the street festival that stretched from 9th Avenue to 13th Avenue.

The festive atmosphere featured two stages, one at 9th Avenue and the other at 13th Avenue, lots of music and numerous tables, exhibits and displays ranging from voter registration sponsored by the NAACP, food trucks and setups from places such as Edna’s Café (soul food), Deberry’s cuisine (soul food, BBQ), Miss Jessie’s Hair Products, Broward College, Holy Cross Hospital, and the Urban League of Broward County.

The wide-ranging activities included

Italian Ice, frozen lemonade, pony rides, a petting zoo, bounce house, and a table for Girl Scout Troop 14139.

“It’s good to be out and see all types of people,” Avery said. “And no craziness.”

People of all ages packed Sistrunk Boulevard all day to enjoy the festival and the tail end of Black History Month, an aspect of the festival that particularly appealed to Ann Clark and Felice Walker.

“I come out here for the history,” Walker said, before turning her attention to the youth.

“The kids need to know what happened and how they got to where we are today. And who to thank for it.”

Both women said they’re disappointed schools don’t teach more Black history.

“I come out here for the history. The kids need to know what happened and how they got to where we are today. And who to thank for it.”

— Felice Walker, festival attendee

They both said they prefer kids learn more about themselves and their past.

“That’s why Black History is every month for me, not just one month,” Clark

said.

Nearby there was an opportunity for a different type of education as Elite Realty was holding a homebuying workshop in its office. It wasn’t affiliated with the festival, but it was an educational opportunity nonetheless.

Back at the Sistrunk Historical Festival, everyone appeared to be having a good time.

There were wide smiles, laughter, and an overall joyful atmosphere all up and down Sistrunk Boulevard.

Some people camped out all day with beach chairs and coolers, enjoying the sights and sounds. That was the case for a 58-year-old man who goes by Smooth. He was relaxing with his cousin, Johnnie Black. Smooth said he’s been attending the festival for years.

“I come out to see the people and celebrate the history,” he said.

The same is true for many who ventured out to the festival, including Clark.

“I’ve been coming here since it’s been at Sistrunk,” she said. “It’s like a family reunion.”