Franklin Street Block Party


To celebrate the return of the Black Love classics series, presented by TECO, this year the Theatre will host a Franklin Street Block Party from 1:00 to 3:00pm followed by the opening screening of Soul Food.

The Block Party is FREE and open to the public, and will feature local, Black-owned food trucks and vendors, plus music, giveaways, activities and information from neighbors and community partners including:

For its third season, the series will begin a week early in order to feature five films – chosen in collaboration with the City of Tampa’s Community Engagement & Partnerships Department – that explore stories centered around the theme of “Faith, Food & Family” as told by Black filmmakers and diverse casts.


Guests attending Black Love Classics Series films are invited to raise a glass for good, courtesy of series sponsor Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. The company – which is founded, owned and led by a Black woman, and is named after the first known African American master distiller, Nearest Green – will donate a dollar for each Old Fashioned cocktail sold in a pledge to raise up to $1.4 million for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

For more information on the nationwide Uncle Nearest HBCU Old Fashioned Challenge, visit www.OldFashionedCocktail.com


Black Love Series Logo

CLICK HERE to see the rest of the 2024 Black Love series schedule.

The Black Love Classic Movie Series is presented by TECO in collaboration with the City of Tampa’s Community Engagement & Partnerships Department. Additional support is provided by Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey and University of Tampa First-Year Studies. Promotional support is provided by WEDU-PBS.