By By Erin Hilsabeck / staff writer
Jne 20, 2004
Sounds of rhythmic gospel music resonated through the streets of downtown Meridian on Saturday as people enjoyed the Juneteenth Heritage Festival.
People stopped what they were doing and stared up at a stage on Fifth Street and listened as Voices of the Rock, a gospel group, performed.
Children finished their games and clapped. Adults began to sing along.
Soon, nearly everyone within earshot was moving to the beat of the gospel music.
About 300 people attended Saturday's early afternoon events, the second and final day of the Juneteenth Heritage Festival, the oldest known celebration of the end of slavery.
The group performing on stage Saturday afternoon was from Freedom Rock Christian Fellowship of 5718 Fifth St. Voices of the Rock was among several groups to perform during the two-day Juneteenth festival.
Prodigal Son, the Divine Messengers, Gloria Christian, Shannon Washington and Young People of Praise, commonly called YPOP, also performed.
The festival began Friday at 7 p.m. and featured hip-hop music, while Saturday's all-day events were geared around gospel sounds.
Saturday night, the festival concluded with a performance by Lakeside, a funk band based in Los Angeles, whose song "Fantastic Voyage" was popular in the early 1980s. .
Vendors and booths lined parts of Fifth Street for the two-day event and included food, games and informational stations.
The Juneteenth Festival was held in Meridian's African American Historic Business District, which runs along Fifth Street from 23rd to 26th avenues.
Part of the idea behind the Juneteenth Heritage Festival is to revitalize that part of town.
This weekend isn't the end of local Juneteenth events. A Juneteenth Heritage Festival golf tournament is planned for Friday. Registration begins Thursday at 7 p.m. at Quality Inn near Interstate 20/59.
The tournament begins Friday at 9 a.m. at Ponta Creek Golf Course at Naval Air Station-Meridian.
Call 601-693-3421 for information.