History:
The Okra Festival began as a small community celebration in the year 2000 in Burkville, Alabama. Neighbors decided to entertain each other in the heat of the summer with food, art and music. The only thing that survived that hot summer was okra, and the Okra Festival was born. Each year the Okra Festival has grown and bloomed and is now named one of the top 10 attractions in Alabama for the month of August, 2008.

The Okra Festival began to attract artists and people from all over Alabama, and international poster artist Amos Paul Kennedy began his Okra Festival Poster series in 2002. Now Okra Festival posters are in the Smithsonian and in Europe as well as all over the United States.

Although the Okra Festival began as a celebration of the African American community, it soon became unique in its ability to attract people of all races, who interact with love and friendship and that is one of the most remarkable qualities of the Okra Festival. Many festival-goers describe it as "a big family party", and people return year after year.

The Okra Festival has brought art to Lowndes County. Residents sell their home made quilts, preserves, artwork and food. Non-profits sell food for their organizations. Local authors sell books. People make and sell jewelry. Farmers grow and sell fresh fruit and vegetables.

The Lowndes County Commission has agreed to place a sign at the end of Frederick Douglass Road that says, "Burkville, Home of the Okra Festival". The Alabama Agriculture Commissioner will attend, as he has in the past.