Saturday was the 29th annual Harrisonburg-Rockingham African American Festival, at Ralph Sampson Park, northeast of downtown Harrisonburg.
The free event was from noon to 6 p.m. The event started in 1993, but it had to take a three-year break due to COVID, said Terra Jones, one of the organizers of the festival.
The event Saturday was only the third time the event was held since COVID forced a break, Jones said.
The festival was initially held in June, at the bottom of the hill. But when the city decided to build its splash park, the event got moved to its new location last year, at the top of the hill.
As for the change to September, organizers wanted cooler weather.
“It’s a celebration of the African-American culture and community here in Harrisonburg. We have it here because of the historical relevance — Lucy F. Simms, Ralph Sampson Park, the Northeast neighborhood.”
The event was also a time to honor local leaders, past and present, including sports coach Elliot Sampson, local pastor Rev. Dr. Chris Johnson, former mayor Chris Jones, and retired teacher Mary Awkard Fairfax.
Most of the vendors and musicians are local to the area. Then the festival brings in other agencies that offer their services, Jones said.
“We have it every year. It’s a good time. That’s about it,” she said.
For Jones, one of the best parts of the festival is that people travel in from out of the area or meet up with friends they haven’t seen in a while.
“It’s just about bringing the community together, gathering, providing some education, some access to community organizations,” she said.
Jones said that part of the event was about showcasing some groups and community organizations.
The most challenging part of the event is raising money from donations and from local businesses, she said.
Attendance, which she pegged at around 400, has fluctuated over the years. The event brought in more people before COVID, at the previous location, Jones said.