Weekend gospel music festival, community events celebrate bicentennial
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Special to the Outlook
In celebration of the Tallahassee-Leon County bicentennial, the Leon County Division of Tourism has collaborated with the Family Worship & Praise Center Community Development Corporation to present The Jubilee Gospel Music Festival.
The two-day event takes place at the Adderley Amphitheater in Cascades Park on Friday and Saturday. Performers include The Clark Sisters, Yolanda Adams, Jekalyn Carr, Todd Dulaney, and Pastor Mike Jr.
Tickets are available at TheAdderleyAmphitheater.com.
In addition to the ticketed events, the festival also features a free workshop, a youth panel discussion with award-winning rapper Dee-1, and the My Choir Rocks competition.
Friday’s lineup features Lisa Knowles & The Brown Singers. Their recent release of “The Evolution Continues,” reached No. 6 on the Billboard Gospel Charts. The song also earned two Stellar Awards.
Yolanda Adams, a Grammy winner who is known for her soulful vocals and inspirational messages, will headline Friday’s show. Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter Todd Dulaney, whose hits “The Anthem” and “You’re Doing It All Again,” will also be on the stage Friday.
Opening performances will include local choirs, such as New Mt. Zion AME, the FAMU Gospel Choir, and The FWPC Praise Team.
On Saturday, the lineup include The Clark Sisters, trailblazers in contemporary Gospel music. Their chart-topping albums include “The Return.”
Jekalyn Carr, a multiple Stellar Awards and Grammy nominee, will perform alongside Pastor Mike, Jr., an 11-time BET Stellar Award winner who blends ministry and musical artistry with messages of resilience and triumph.
Saturday will begin with free community activities, beginning at 9 a.m. It is expected to conclude at 3 p.m. The festival includes a workshop, a youth panel discussion with award-winning rapper Dee-1, vendors, food trucks, entertainment and a My Choir Rocks competition where choirs and praise teams across the southeast region will perform in front of music industry professionals.
A workshop focusing on the Business of Ministry will be held on Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. It will take place at Parkview in Cascades.
The workshop will focus on navigating the relationships between pastors, worship leaders, and music directors within a ministry setting. Discussions will delve into the essential aspects of building, growing, and sustaining a music ministry.
Attendees can expect insightful discussions that focus on the challenges and difficulties inherent in this endeavor, as well as the positive outcomes that arise when approached in the right manner. The discussions will touch on the spiritual, logistical, and creative elements involved in fostering a thriving music ministry within a broader ministry context.
A youth panel discussion is also scheduled for Saturday at 10:30 a.m. inside Parkview at Cascades.
Dee-1 will talk about how music influences impact today’s youth and communities. Dee-1 is a world-renowned keynote speaker, educator, Nasir Jones Hip Hop Fellow at Harvard University and Tufts University Professor.
The panel is expected to identify harmful messages in music, understanding their effects, and finding ways to empower and uplift our youth. Panelists will also discuss ways to foster resilience, promote positive standards, and strengthen community connections.
The Choir Rocks competition is scheduled for noon on Saturday on stage. This event, hosted by Griff, a co-host of Get Up Mornings with Erica Cambell, will also include dance groups and drum lines.
The afternoon will end with a Jubilee 200-Voice Choir made up of local school choirs in celebration of our community’s bicentennial.
Concert tickets can be purchased at TheAdderleyAmphitheater.com. Tickets start at $35 for Friday’s concert and $40 for Saturday. Two-day are $65 plus taxes and service fees.
