The Excitement Is Rising

By Imani Thomas

    TALLAHASSEE, FL — The excitement is rising in the Tallahassee Frenchtown community. Frenchtown is Tallahassee’s best-known black neighborhood. The first Frenchtown Rising took place on September 10th this was the first Frenchtown Rising since having to cancel last year due to Covid-19.

The event was full of food and fun and tons of people in the community. The performances consisted of different community dance organizations and amazing stars that are known around the world.

Executive Director Laurise Thomas thinks this first year back will be a hit.

“We never had anything like this in the Frenchtown community before, this is honestly going to something for the community and for FAMU” Laurise said. “We took on the theme this year that the excitement is rising, because after a one-year hiatus we are back! We’re changing Frenchtown into a business and entertainment complex and we’re so excited.”

More than two dozen vendors lined the street, eager to return and share in what makes Frenchtown so special to so many.

“We said Frenchtown is rising because as you can see all the growth that we have in this community,” she said. “We wanted to be in sync with things that are happening here, so Frenchtown is rising.”

And make no mistake, it is also a chance for the green and orange of Rattler nation to show some pride.

The first acts were Sunshine Anderson and Adina Howard who are best known for their hit songs “Heard it all before” and “Freak like me.”

The festival will be held every Friday before every FAMU home game.