The inaugural event, hosted by Kingdom Plug, will showcase the majesty, pride and artistry of some of the top collegiate marching bands in the southeast region.
Frank Johnson, founder/ CEO of Kingdom Plug
Greenville, SC — An estimated 30,000 people will gather in downtown Greenville, SC for the inaugural HBCU Culture Weekend & Battle of the Bands scheduled for Friday, August 23rd and Saturday, August 24th. The event, organized by Kingdom Plug, is in partnership with Visit Greenville and will take place at Sirrine Stadium (100 Cleveland St. Greenville, SC 29601).
Greenville has a strong and rich Battle of the Bands history, which dates back to close to over a decade. With that history, HBCU Culture Weekend will spark a new tradition here in Greenville and will unite the city for a day of safe, family-friendly fun and entertainment. A portion of ticket sales and sponsorship dollars totaling an estimated $150,000 will be donated and distributed to the six participating HBCU band programs for scholarships and educational experiences. HBCU Culture Weekend is also estimated to bring together more than 30,000 fans and $15 million of economic impact to the city of Greenville.
“As a former HBCU Marching Band student, I know first-hand what it’s like to be very close to graduating but couldn’t because of the lack of financial resources. During my Junior year in college, my father became very ill due to diabetes and to help my family save money, I decided to leave school. As an advocate for education, I wanted to create a platform that not only highlights the legacy and culture of HBCU institutions but most importantly, funding opportunities to keep kids in school. I want to make sure that what happened to me doesn’t happen to another HBCU Marching Band student,” says Frank Johnson, Kingdom Plug’s CEO.
In addition to the six participating collegiate bands, two top high school marching bands, Darlington High School (Darlington, SC) and 71st High School (Fayetteville, NC) will showcase their talents on the field as opening acts to the main battle. Four high school marching bands, Vance High School (Charlotte, NC), Orangeburg-Wilkinson (Orangeburg, SC), McCormick High School (McCormick, SC), and Westlake High School (Atlanta, GA) will perform at the Block Party during the Fan Experience.
The official schedule of events for the HBCU Culture Weekend includes:
Friday, August 23rd (Free and open to the public)
• Fan Fest 3 p.m. – 10 p.m.
• Health & Wellness 4 p.m. 5 p.m.
• Live Concert (Ft. Jekalyn Carr & Bernard Williams) 5 p.m. -6:30 p.m.
• HBCU Step Show 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 24th (Free and open to the public)
• Fan Fest 12 p.m. -5 p.m.
• Block Party 12:30 pm – 1: 30 p.m.
• College & Career Fair 1 p.m. 3: 30 p.m.
• MAIN EVENT: HBCU CULTURE BATTLE OF THE BANDS (Ticket purchase REQUIRED for entry; $20 Early Bird Tickets are available)
o Gates Open 5 p.m.
o Show Start 6:30 p.m.
For tickets and hotel information, visit www.HBCUculture.com. For media inquiries, press credentials and interview request, please contact pr@kingdomplug.com.
Follow them on Instagram @HBCUCulture.Band and on Facebook at @HBCUCulture.Band with #HBCUCULTURE hashtags for news and regular updates.
PRESS CONTACT:
Kingdom Plug
fjohnson@kingdomplug.com
(704) 222-9087