City of Montgomery Announces Inaugural A Fine & Dandy Affair™ in Partnership with ESSENCE
The City of Montgomery is proud to announce the inaugural A Fine & Dandy Affair™
Post Date:March 11, 2026 7:12 AMCity of Montgomery Announces Inaugural A Fine & Dandy Affair™ in Partnership with ESSENCE
Montgomery, Ala. — The City of Montgomery is proud to announce the inaugural A Fine & Dandy Affair™, a new signature cultural experience debuting Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Blount Cultural Park. Rooted in Montgomery’s creative spirit and enriched through a newly signed partnership with ESSENCE Communications, this city-owned event is designed to celebrate Southern elegance, creativity, and cultural expression. THE EVENT IS FOR EVERYBODY.
Conceived by Jennifer D. Dobbs, Director of Cultural Affairs, A Fine & Dandy Affair™ began as a vision for a high-end, inclusive cultural gathering. Through the facilitation of community leader CC Calhoun and others, Dobbs was introduced to ESSENCE, allowing the concept to grow into a citywide cultural moment with national resonance. After ESSENCE executives visited Montgomery in mid-February, they left energized by the city’s creative potential. Today, the City and ESSENCE have finalized an MOU agreement formalizing this collaborative partnership.
Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed shared his excitement about the partnership and the event’s cultural significance.
“Montgomery’s story has always been shaped by deep cultural history, civic leadership, and the strength of our community,” Mayor Reed said. “This partnership with ESSENCE allows us to showcase that legacy in a bold new way. We’re thrilled to host an event that reflects who we are, celebrates our creativity, and welcomes everyone to be part of Montgomery’s next cultural chapter.”
About the Event – May 16, 2026
A Fine & Dandy Affair™ will offer a full day of cultural programming, including:
• Workshops
• A fashion show
• Local and regional vendors
• Additional family-friendly activities
The evening will culminate in the main event, a 7–11 p.m. gala where guests are encouraged to arrive in their finest dandy-inspired attire.
The gala will feature:
• Gourmet food
• Live music and curated talent
• Dancing
• A showcase of Montgomery’s creative excellence
More details about ticket purchasing, schedules, and programming will be released soon.
About the Partnership
A Fine & Dandy Affair™ is grounded in Montgomery’s cultural heritage and elevated through a strategic creative partnership with ESSENCE Communications, part of Sundial Media & Technology Group (SMTG). Together, the City of Montgomery and ESSENCE are developing an experience that honors the city’s legacy while positioning Montgomery as a contemporary hub for culture, style, and creative expression.
The collaboration brings together Montgomery’s civic leadership and cultural history with ESSENCE’s editorial authority, production expertise, and national media reach.
Through this partnership, A Fine & Dandy Affair™ evolves from a local concept into a high-impact cultural platform capable of generating tourism, visibility, and economic participation, while benefiting from ESSENCE’s cultural trust and amplification to ensure Montgomery’s story is told authentically and at scale
About ESSENCE COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA GROUP, INC.
ESSENCE Communications is the number one—and only 100% Black-owned—media, technology and commerce company at scale dedicated to Black women and communities. With a community of more than 31 million Black women, ESSENCE inspires a global audience through diverse storytelling and immersive original content rooted in Culture, Equity and Celebration.
The brand's multi-platform presence in/ publishing, experiential and online encompasses its namesake magazine; digital, video and social platforms; television specials; books; and signature live events, including ESSENCE Black Women in Music, Black Women in Hollywood, Black Women in Sports, Fashion House, Street Style and the ESSENCE Festival of Culture®. Return to full list >>
