Loving Hands International and Culture & Heritage Alliance present the African World Peace Festival Friday, July 13 – Sunday, July 15 in downtown Fayetteville.

“This is our fourth year of putting together the African World Peace Festival,” said Isabella Effon, president of Culture & Heritage Alliance. “We want to bring cultural awareness and educate our children about the continent of Africa and let them know it is not just a country.”

Effon added the festival also includes the Caribbean community to let children know they have Africans and Afro-Cubans who have migrated and now become a part of the population.

The event will feature the African World Peace Festival with entertainment and music as well as a 5K Peace Run and Cape Fear Valley’s Take Charge of Your Health event.

Friday, July 13, is the kickoff from 6–10 p.m.

Saturday, July 14, at 7 a.m. is pre-registration for the 5K Peace Run. The run starts at 8 a.m. There will be free health screenings provided by Cape Fear Valley’s Take Charge of Your Health at 11 a.m. These screenings are for diabetes, blood pressure and sexually transmitted diseases. The music festival starts at 2 p.m. and will end at 10 p.m. The headliner is Kevin Lyttle. There will also be cultural performers.

“This year for the health screenings we want to reach out as much as possible to let Wilmington Road, B Street and surrounding areas know they are a part of the Cool Spring Downtown District,” said Effon. “We want them and the surrounding communities to come and participate in the free health screenings.”

The event continues Sunday, July 15. “From noon-7 p.m. is the gospel concert,” said Effon. “It will feature traditional drumming and contemporary gospel music, and we will have vendors until 5 p.m.”

Loving Hands International and Culture & Heritage Alliance are nonprofit organizations that focus on the needs of the poor in Ghana and West Africa as well as the local needs in the Fayetteville and Fort Bragg area. “Our cause is to give back to the community and also to reach back to students in Africa,” said Effon. “We have been collecting books for schools, hospital supplies and first-aid supplies to send over there.”

Effon added that in the Fayetteville/Fort Bragg area, the organization facilitates canned food drives for Operation Blessings during the summer.

“Come join our community event with all of us celebrating diversity and benefitting our community,” said Effon.

The cost of the 5K run is $25 for children and $30 for adults. The music festival is free and open to the public. Bring your lawn chair and umbrella to enjoy the music. Food vendors will be on-site. If you want to volunteer, become a vendor or sponsor, or if you have a question, call 910-728-2186.