39th WellsFest is coming up. We have details here
A day of free live music with styles ranging from indie rock to traditional jazz awaits guests attending the 39th WellsFest set for Saturday, Sept. 30, at Jamie Fowler Boyll Park.
“Our intention is to share a broad spectrum of the music and musicians in our area who do incredible work,” said Rev. Chris Cumbest, senior pastor of Wells Memorial United Methodist Church, sponsor of the event.
The musicians represent “an incredibly diverse group of people,” he said, all of whom are donating their time and talents as a gift to the community.
Activities kick off at 9:30 a.m. Saturday with a pet parade. Awards will be given for pets judged cutest, best dressed, most congenial and best of show. Pet owners are encouraged to dress in costumes along with their pets for the best-dressed award.
Prizes will include handmade water bowls created by residents from The Mustard Seed, a Christian community for adults with developmental disabilities. The event also will feature a blessing of the pets and each pet will receive a St. Francis of Assisi medallion to wear on their collar.
The event remains pet friendly all day and pet toys and pets will be available for families to adopt courtesy of Paul Moak Subaru and Community Animal Rescue and Adoption of Mississippi. An inflatable Subaru dog, standing over three stories high, will also be on hand to amaze the crowd and there will be a contest to name the giant dog.
“It is a fun attraction that will bring a lot of smiles,” said Rebecca McCarty, marketing director at Paul Moak Subaru.Music begins at 10 a.m. Saturday with the full schedule announced as follows:
10 a.m. Jamie and Warren Ertle: Music from the Great American Songbook, Roaring 20’s and ragtime era.
10:45 a.m. Carson Stanford: Acoustic guitar and vocals.
11:30 a.m. New Bourbon Street Jazz Band: Music to transport you right to Preservation Hall in New Orleans.
12:15 p.m. The Jackson Gypsies: Latin favorites and “Latinize” rock and pop tunes. Salsa dancing allowed!
1 p.m. Raphael Semmes Quartet: Standards, BeBop, Latin and Funk from the Jackson Music Awards ”2023 Jazz Group of the Year.”
1:45 p.m. Smokies: A loud, proud favorite of the young set will be rockin’ with indies and originals.
2:30 p.m. The Blue Monday Band: The Monday night house band from Hal & Mal’s will be on stage to proclaim “Hey, hey…the Blues is Alright!”
3:15 p.m. Patrick Harkins Band: A Jackson favorite featuring Patrick’s blazing guitar and a set of classic rock, blues and Motown.
A variety of children’s games and activities along with food and beverage trucks, arts and crafts vendors, a plant sale and an online silent auction featuring all sorts of gifts and household items also will be part of the event's offerings.
Serving as co-chairs for the event this year will be Anne Karges and Charles Araujo. The music lineup is being coordinated by Raphel Semmes and the pet parade is being chaired by Bob Kersh.
Announced over the summer as beneficiary for the 2023 WellsFest is Operation Shoestring, a non-profit organization that provides after school and family support programs in central Jackson. The program originally began in the basement of Wells Church in 1968.
“We really are a child of this church and its congregation and are thrilled to have been selected as the 2023 WellsFest beneficiary,” said Operation Shoestring Executive Director Robert Langford.
Wells Church chooses a new beneficiary each year after reviewing applications from nonprofits. The festival has raised more than $1.5 million for a range of community non-profits over the years.
The church was originally organized in 1926 and currently has about 140 active members.
Promoted as Jackson’s original drug and alcohol-free outdoor music event, WellsFest was initially the brainchild of longtime Jackson restauranteur and promoter Malcolm White, who organized the first one at Millsaps College as a way to thank former Wells Pastor, the late Rev. Keith Tonkel, for performing his marriage ceremony.
Boyll Park is located at 1398 Lakeland Drive in Jackson about 1 mile east of Interstate 55. Free parking will be provided in the adjacent lot at Smith-Wills Stadium.
WellsFest has been named one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast, received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts and the Governor’s Initiative for Volunteer Excellence Award.
To volunteer, donate or learn more about WellsFest, call 601-353-0658 or visit wellschurch.org/wellsfest.
For more info about Operation Shoestring, visit operationshoestring.org or call Alexandra Melnick, Operation Shoestring’s Communication Director at 601-353-6336.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: 39th WellsFest is coming up in Jackson MS We have details here
