18th Annual Caribbean Folk Festival, Atlanta Caribbean Carnival and Parade of Bands Set For May 27, 2006 – Atlanta

One of the Atlanta’s most talked about events the “official” Atlanta Caribbean Carnival 2006: 18th Annual Memorial Day Caribbean Folk Festival and Parade of Bands once again, will bring the flavors of the Caribbean to the city of Atlanta. In a collaborative effort to promote the rich diversity of the Caribbean culture, The Atlanta Caribbean Carnival Bandleaders Association (ACCBA), the organization who coordinated last year’s Caribbean Festival at the Georgia International Horse Park located in Conyers, Georgia, has joined forces with the long-standing non-profit organization The Atlanta Peach Carnival, Inc. to bring its festival participants the Atlanta
Caribbean Folk Festival and “Parade of Bands”.

The “Parade of Bands” will be held on Saturday, May 27th, 2006. The parade route begins at the Civic Center Marta Station on West Peachtree Street, goes to Peachtree Street, turns right on International Boulevard, left on Centennial Drive, right on Martin Luther King, Jr., Drive, left on Walnut Street, right on Beckwith Street and
continues to Clark Atlanta University’s Panther Stadium. Bands/troupes will parade in front of an audience and judges at the “Marketplace” (Panther Stadium).

The Atlanta Caribbean Folk Festival is a family-friendly event as well as a cultural experience. The “Marketplace” will allow Festival goers to enjoy authentic exotic Caribbean food while listening to the melodies of steel band music and local artist. Festival goers will also shop the arts and crafts booths which will be packed with a
host of vendors who display quality merchandise representing the colorful flare of the Caribbean culture.

Other activities surrounding the festival include the official launching of Atlanta’s 2006 Caribbean Carnival “Picnic and Pan in the Park” to be held at Piedmont Park on May 6th, 2006 from 3pm-6pm. Additionally, on Saturday, May 6, 2006 from 4pm-6pm, the Atlanta Caribbean Folk Festival (ACFF) Atlanta Peach Carnival, Inc. will host a presentation and panel discussion featuring the film documentary “Footsteps of My Father”. The film will review the Caribbean culture from Africa to present. Mr. Charles Johnson, CEO of the Sweet Auburn Festival, is guest speaker for dialogue. The Kiddies Carnival to be held at Wade Walker Park (5585 Rockbridge Rd., Stone Mountain, GA) on May 20th, 2006 from 12pm-7pm. The 5th Annual Memorial Day Soccer Tournament and Caribbean Family Reunion 2006 will be held on May 28, 2006 from 10am-8pm. The
tournament will be held at Wade Walker Park (5585 Rockbridge Rd., Stone Mountain, GA).

Tickets to the Atlanta Caribbean Folk Festival will be sold at the Clark Atlanta Panthers Stadium for $5 at the door. Parking is $10. Festival management also encourages the use of MARTA to attend the activities at the Clark Atlanta University Panthers Stadium located at 735 Beckwith Street, Atlanta, Georgia.

Additional information, including the vendor registration form is available at http://www.atlantacarnival.org or http://www.acffonline.com. If you are interested in being a volunteer at any on this year’s festival activities, please call Annette Lemonn at(404)428-0457.

Media Contact: Charles Baker, Public Relations Officer
Atlanta Caribbean Carnival Bandleaders Association (ACCBA)
(770) 883-4566

Media Contact: Oldine Jean-Charles,
Public Relations, LJCL, Inc.
Atlanta Caribbean Folk Festival (ACFF) Atlanta Peach Carnival , Inc.
(404) 627-8702