Celebrating the traditions, culture and historical contributions of African Americans, the 14th annual Original Collard Greens Cultural Festival will take place October 7 at The Promised Land in Snellville.

“The Collard Greens Festival is such a wonderful event that brings together the community to celebrate culture and delicious healthy eating,” says festival founder, Dr. Mama Nobantu Ankoanda. Its mission is to promote family unity and the importance of healthy eating and living for the well-being of future generations.

The festival will feature vendors, entertainment and a cook-off. Visitors can enjoy Wellness and Sustainability Pavilions, a farmers’ market, arts and crafts vendors, and a Children’s Sprout Land. Live and prerecorded music, including gospel, blues, reggae, jazz, R&B and hip hop will be performed. Greens, yams, black-eyed peas, collard green muffins and collard green ice cream will be available.

A Collard Green King and Queen cook-off and a vegetarian cooking demonstration will be featured. The cash prize for the first-place winner of the cook-off is $500, the first runner-up wins $100 and the second runner-up receives $50. “It is simple,” says the festival’s website. “You will leave wanting to ‘Eat Mo’ Greens!’”

The eighth annual Black Sustainability Summit will also take place alongside the festival, with a focus on renewable energy, agriculture, waste management and more.

The approximately 100 acres of The Promised Land is the property of the Livsey family, headed by Thomas and Doretha. Thomas’ father, Robert, bought the land, which had been part of a 1000-acre, slave-worked plantation, in the early 1920s. Over the last century, the property has become home to Black families and businesses; the Livsey family literally built a Black community. It is located at 4540 Lee Road SW in Snellville.

The festival is currently seeking sponsors, vendors, entertainment and volunteers. For more information, call 800-253-3397, email [email protected] or visit CollardGreensCulturalFestival.com.