Afr'Am fest returning to downtown.

NORFOLK, Va. - Norfolk City Council and Afr'Am Fest officials agreed Thursday to hold the 2010 Afr'Am Fest at Town Point Park May 21 to 23.

This marks the first time in two years that the festival has been held downtown.

Afr'Am Fest had been one of the most popular and well attended festivals in the area but schedule dates had to be changed last year and the attendance dropped. The festival had been held on Memorial Day weekend but new use policies for Town Point Park prevent gating the park during holidays.

Festival organizers tried to hold the event at Norfolk State University, but crowd and parking issue in the neighborhood forced it's cancellation. Other venues were perused but festival officials insistence on the Memorial Day weekend date caused conflicts.

Councilwoman Daun S. Hester said Afr'Am officials felt they needed to reach a compromise with the city, even if the date wasn't perfect, in order to save the festival. As it stands, Afr'Am officials will have five months to prepare for their 27th annual festival. Both Hester and Councilman Paul R. Riddick worry that Afr'Am Fest might struggle again.
"But I think they feel like they had no choice," Hester said. "They have to begin lining up the acts for the festival and to begin making other arrangements."

Donna Smith, who heads the Southeastern Virginia Arts Association, which sponsors Afr'Am Fest, said she is relieved to finally have a date after months of wrangling with city officials. "It is the weekend before the holiday, and that's not ideal," she said. "But we're going to give it a try. We're going to work with the city and try and make this a huge success again."