Reservoir Park will transform this week from a blank canvas to a cultural fair and carnival that celebrates Black and African American cultures in Lancaster.

The annual African American Cultural Fair, which returns Wednesday and continues through Sunday, may look a little different than previous years, however.

For starters, there will be a new art exhibition held at the event, featuring art from nine local Black artists, with works set up on easels donated by the Lancaster Art Vault. The first 25 people to see the exhibition, held under the pavilion in Reservoir Park, will get an art print from Lancaster artist Keisha Finnie.

Derek Smith of the African American Cultural Alliance of Lancaster (AACAL) — which hosts the festival — says that in order for the event to continue celebrating African American culture, it has to be representative of what the community is doing. While an art exhibition is an unfamiliar concept at the event, it's important to try, Smith says.

Another unfamiliarity is that AACAL is not hosting a parade this year due to construction and fewer sponsorships, Smith says. (Smith credits sponsors such as Highmark Wholecare, Lancaster Toyota, the City Limits Foundation and the Lancaster County Community Foundation, for the event being able to happen this year).

In place of the parade, the AACAL will host a drill team, drum line and dance battle.

"In order for stuff in our community to thrive, we have to be consistent," Smith says. "Black people have always figured out a way to make things work."

But, it's important to persist anyways and bring culture and community to Reservoir Park, Smith says.

That's why the event will include a five-day carnival, complete with a midway, games and food, as well as a talent show, a tribute event, line dancing, a worshipping event and a concert with R&B group Day26.

For the rides, there will be $30 all-you-can-ride wristbands that can be used Wednesday and Thursday. This year, tickets will be done through an app called Magic Money, or through a pre-paid card.

"When we do events in our neighborhood, it creates economic development in our neighborhood," Smith says, adding that groups often come from out of town to visit the event.

While it's an event that celebrates African American and Black cultures, Smith says that everyone is welcome and should consider attending to experience the culture and the food.

"Black culture and African American culture needs to be celebrated on the scale of every other culture across the city," Smith says. "Our event is not just for Black people. It's open to anybody."

Honoring Ty Gant

Every year, the AACAL tries to honor prominent Black figures in the community, with living to posthumous tributes.

This year, the fair will host a special event dedicated to artist and poet Ty Gant, who died March 22 of a seizure related to an ongoing battle with alcoholism.

"We try to pay honor and tribute to people who have made an impact in our community," Smith says.

The organization teamed up with poet Evita Colon, of Speak to My Soul, a creative agency that celebrates Black culture and experiences. This will culminate in an event called, "Ty Gant's: Be Still," held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 28.

Colon describes Gant as much more like a big brother than a friend. She credits Gant for getting her involved in the poetry and art scene in Lancaster.

"He took me under his wing and introduced me to everyone that I needed to know," Colon says. "He would always bring someone into the room so they can expand on any opportunity that's there. He did that for me, and I know he has done it for so many others."

The "Be Still" tribute is a nod to one of Gant's last performances, "Be Still: A Mosaic Man," which he performed in December at the Ware Center. The one-man performance showed his struggles with alcoholism and his journey in healing.

A line from the performance, which Colon says she keeps close to her, is, "I'm talking to family members that labeled me as a prodigy. I sacrificed a lot so all of y'all could be proud of me."

"That line hit me so hard because I know how much he went through just for other people to win," Colon says.

Gant also had a clothing brand called "Be Still," which featured T-shirts with positive phrases, printed backwards so the wearer could read the message in the mirror.

The tribute event will be held on Gant's birthday, which was intentional, Colon says.

For this event, Colon wants people to come by and share the love and process their grief together.

"It's very common in our culture to grieve collectively in communal spaces," Colon says. "We can share space with those that are grieving, those that are carrying the heaviness, and we can do that together. That's how we overcome these moments where we feel alone."

Colon says that people often viewed Gant as a vessel for art and oftentimes forgot the man behind the art.

For those who can't come, but want to honor Gant's life anyway, Colon says to "be in service to others with intention and love, but also (take) care of yourself."


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