by Shawn Nowlin
If anyone ever wondered what Black joy looks like, last Saturday answered that curiosity in the affirmative.
Presented by Truist Bank, the 33rd Henry Street Heritage Festival took over Elmwood Park as no other event could. Between the artisans, food vendors, live entertainment and information booths, there was plenty to do.
The musical groups Hoppie Vaughn & the Ministers of Soul, Funky Bone and Groove Kontrol as well as hip-hop dance group Mesh Moves put on a show that left many wanting more.
Free from noon to 5 p.m., tickets were required for the evening concert at the park’s amphitheater to see opening act J. Brown and headliner En Vogue.
Kianna Price Marshall, a member of the Henry Street Heritage Festival Planning Committee, says the event is a major fundraiser for the Harrison Museum of African American Culture. All proceeds, she noted, go towards supporting the museum’s operations and programs.
Anytime an event is held outdoors, there is a chance of bad weather being a factor. Mother Nature must have also been a fan of this year’s festival because she did not get in the way of the festivities.
Jai Clarke says pictures don’t do the festival justice. One has to be there to truly experience the vibe. “For the life of me, I’ve never understood why it’s hard for some to comprehend that just because an event is pro-Black doesn’t mean it’s anti-other demographics,” she said. “I’ve had co-workers tell me they are afraid of attending out of fear of being judged. I tell them that the truth is the truth whether they believe it or not.”
Henry Street Festival is known for attracting a sizeable crowd every year. Last Saturday’s number easily surpassed 3,500. Leaving any baggage at home, not being a stiff and dancing to the music are prerequisites of the Henry Street Festival.
Ralph Walker is almost as passionate about music as he is about food. With Henry Street, he says he gets the best of both worlds. “Few annual events excite me like this one. I’ve been coming for years, and I’ve never had a bad experience,” he said. “I took home some beautiful custom clothing and jewelry for my grandmother who was unable to make it.”
One of the best date night experiences that Roanoke has to offer, several couples danced the night away, taking many pictures so they could relive the moment over and over again.
Best known for the Billboard Top 50 hit “Vibe,” J. Brown immediately won over the audience with his contagious energy. When he walked off stage and into the crowd during his set, the hearts of many women melted, including 76-year-old Elaine Williams who said for a second, she fell in love with the Detroit singer
En Vogue, currently comprised of members Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron and Rhona Bennett, has sold over 20 million records worldwide. When they hit the stage to perform the classics “Don’t Let Go” and “Giving Him Something He Can Feel,” Stacey Saunders says she felt like he was in high school again.
“As someone who greatly misses the golden era of 90s R&B, I can’t tell how much I enjoyed their performance. I used to play them every single day when I got my driver’s license at 17,” she said. “Several of my lifelong friends were right next to me getting their groove on to the music too. At its core, this is what the Henry Street Festival is all about.”
A who’s who of R&B musicians have graced the Henry Street stage over the years – Jagged Edge, Vivian Green, Marsha Ambrosius, Robin Thicke, Ruben Studdard, SWV and Jon. B, just to name a few. This year’s honorees rank up there with the very best.
The impact of the Henry Street Festival goes far beyond just a one-day outing. Since becoming a yearly event, it has raised an innumerable amount of money that the community has directly benefited from.
