Celebrate Grand Festival Day of the 2017 Savannah Black Heritage Festival on Saturday, February 11, with an array of family-oriented activities and a star-studded evening concert. All events will be centered in and around the Savannah Civic Center (301 Oglethorpe Ave.).

The day kicks off at 8:30 a.m. with health and wellness activities. Walk Georgia will present a health walk from the Savannah Civic Center, passing historic African American landmarks, and back. Preregistration is encouraged. Call 912-652-7981 or visit www.ugaextension.com/chatham for more information. The event is sponsored by the University of Georgia Extension Chatham County and WellCare of Southeast Georgia.

From 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., adults can stop in to the first floor lobby for the adult health fair. Sponsored by WellCare of Georgia, St. Joseph’s/Candler Health Systems and the Chatham County Health Department, visitors can receive free screenings, participate in exercise demonstrations, including aerobic line-dancing and more.

Childhood Obesity and Prevention Education will lead the fifth annual youth exercise program from 1 – 2 p.m. in the third floor ballroom.

Other youth events include a variety and magic show with Magic Marc (1 p.m.), the Sankofa African American Museum on Wheels, and a crafts village where children can engage in dollmaking, painting, cooking and more. Class sizes for the crafts village are limited, and reservations for the 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. sessions are required by emailing [email protected].

Self-published local authors will discuss the challenges and success of writing, publishing and marketing on the second floor at 1 p.m.

Parents and children are encouraged to learn how to “Care for That Hair – Naturally” with demonstrations by The Nappy Hutt from 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

At 2:30 p.m. Carver State Bank will celebrate its 90th anniversary as the oldest locally-owned and operated commercial bank in Savannah.

The Grand Festival Day Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony at 3:30 p.m. will launch an afternoon and evening of performances. The annual youth talent extravaganza starts at 4 p.m.

At 6 p.m., a live concert will open with the winners of the Y.E.S. talent showcase and new recording artist, Aspen Martin. The main performance features Brick, a classic funk band, and 112, an American R&B quartet.

“Focused on the Future; Acknowledging Echoes from the Past” is the central theme of the 2017 Savannah Black Heritage Festival scheduled for February 1 - 26, 2017.  The 2017 festival will be the 18th one produced by Savannah State University and the 28th sponsored by the City of Savannah. All festival events and activities are free of admission and open to the public.