Longstanding WIDU Anniversary celebration returns to Fayetteville after four years
Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect that the phone number to call for tickets is 910-483-6111.
Nearly 40 years ago, Wes Cookman was in a celebratory mood.
He had recently purchased WIDU, a Fayetteville gospel radio station that dates to 1958, and wanted to mark the occasion with an anniversary celebration.
Little did he know that the 1988 gospel concert, which attracted 1,500 attendees, would blossom into a multi-day annual event with more than 30,000 guests from all over the East Coast in the next three decades.
Now in its 35th year, the WIDU Anniversary returns to the city later this month after a long, pandemic-induced hiatus.
With about 3,700 expected attendees across four events, this year’s celebration is not as big as it once was.
Cookman said he and his wife, Sandy, are humbled to host the anniversary once again, but with the loss of some community members who attended for years, it is a bittersweet moment.
“This is a healing year,” he said. “We’re sad for those that we lost, we’re happy that we’re blessed to bring the event back.”
The celebration has long had a far-reaching impact, with sanctioned events leading up to the concert at churches throughout the state, and attendees traveling from as far as New York and Florida.
However, like the radio station itself, which centers community talk shows and ministry broadcasting, the Cookmans said their vision for the celebration has always been to serve locals.
They strive to make all of Fayetteville feel welcome to the concert by keeping ticket prices affordable with the help of sponsors, Cookman said, even offering some free tickets and transportation in the past.
As a result, the concert has struck a chord with residents. Cookman said people have met their future spouses as the choir harmonizes; couples on the brink of divorce have found reconciliation as the vocalists’ messages of love and faith drift through the air; and passionate guest speakers have inspired some to start their own businesses.
Cookman said they are grateful for the sponsors, venue management, volunteers, churches and attendees who have helped make the WIDU Anniversary celebration possible.
“What you see here started as a hope and a dream in 1987,” he said. “We’re humbled and amazed.”
Here's the schedule of events for the WIDU Anniversary:
Women’s Empowerment Luncheon
Time and date: Noon Oct. 26
Location: Crown Expo, 301 East Mountain Drive
Guest speaker: Pastor Ruby Holland
Guest artist: Anthony Brown
Price: $40-$50
Tickets: Call 910-483-6111, visit widuanniversary.com or WIDU studios at 2520 Murchison Road, Hair Joy at 3421 Murchison Road, S&J Gospel Shop at 240 Westwood Shopping Center or Platform Dzynz at 6257 Raeford Road, Suite 3
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Prayer Breakfast
Date and time: 9 a.m. Oct. 27
Location: Crown Expo
Guest speaker: Bishop Rudolph McKissick, Jr.
Guest artist: Zacardi Cortez
Price: $40 to $50
Tickets: Call 910-483-6111, visit widuanniversary.com or WIDU studios at 2520 Murchison Road, Hair Joy at 3421 Murchison Road, S&J Gospel Shop at 240 Westwood Shopping Center or Platform Dzynz at 6257 Raeford Road, Suite 3
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Traditional Gospel Night
Time and date: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 27
Location: Kingdom Impact Global Ministries, 2503 Murchison Road
Guest artists: Doc McKenzie and the Gospel Hi Lites, Lisa Knowles Smith & the Brown Singers, the Virginia Aires, the McDuffies
Emcee: Pastor William L. Neill
Price: $20 to $30
Tickets: Call 910-483-6111 or visit WIDU studios at 2520 Murchison Road, Hair Joy at 3421 Murchison Road, S&J Gospel Shop at 240 Westwood Shopping Center or Platform Dzynz at 6257 Raeford Road, Suite 3
Mama’s Girls stage play
Time and date: 7 p.m. Oct. 30
Location: Seabrook Auditorium at Fayetteville State University, 1200 Murchison Road
Price: Free to attend
Tickets: Visit WIDU Studios, 2520 Murchison Road
Taylor Shook writes about food, dining and culture for The Fayetteville Observer. She can be reached at tshook@gannett.com, on Twitter, or Facebook.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville gospel station WIDU brings back anniversary celebration
