The Artists in Bloom Festival will inform students and the community about art, literature and health care.
The festival is a chance to introduce the university to the community, President Fred Gainous said.
This event will be the first of its kind at FAMU.
“It will give every citizen in Tallahassee a Florida A&M experience,” he said.
“The event endeavors to become an annual festival celebrating the arts and promoting literacy,” said Valencia E. Matthews, festival director.
In attendance at the festival will be Tim Reid, an actor, producer, writer and director. One of his most famous roles was the father on hit sitcom “Sister, Sister.”
His wife Daphne, who is remembered as the second Aunt Vivian on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” will also be present, along with a plethora of authors, artists, models and vendors.
There will also be a health fair where people can get tested for diabetes, sickle cell anemia and AIDS. The Southeastern Community Blood Bank will conduct a blood drive.
Morgan Clemons was pleased the festival will educate the community on some recurring diseases in the African-American community.
“I think it would be a great opportunity to help educate FAMU about health awareness,” said Clemons, 20, a junior health care management student from Tallahassee.
Although the event is a means of acquainting the university with the Tallahassee area students are encouraged to come out and participate.
“Nothing happens on this campus where students are not intimately involved, and this is no different,” Matthews said.
“We want everybody who is a part of FAMU to be a part of the event.”
Some students displayed a positive attitude about the festival.
“I believe this event will be a great success for the school and the community,” said Tanika Johnson, 20, a junior political science student from Tallahassee.
“I’ve never heard of an event like this in the community and I’m interested in going to see what the different artists have to display.”
Brandi Wilkerson can be reached at tiana813@aol.com.