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Soul Food Festival returns for 18th year

By Nick Blank
Posted 8/28/19

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Soul Food Festival returns to Vera Francis Hall Park for its 18th edition from noon to 7 p.m. on Oct. 5.

The festival will have its usual run of fried chicken wings, …

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Soul Food Festival returns for 18th year


Posted

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Soul Food Festival returns to Vera Francis Hall Park for its 18th edition from noon to 7 p.m. on Oct. 5.

The festival will have its usual run of fried chicken wings, garlic crabs, a fashion show, dance offs, a parade and a full slate of entertainers. A sweet potato pie contest and barbeque rib contest are also billed.

Producer and singer-songwriter Miles Jaye, who spent two years touring with the Village People, is the headliner. Jaye had three top-10 hits on the U.S. R&B chart with “I’ve Been a Fool For You”; “Let’s Start Love Over” and “Objective.”

“(The Village People is) what gave Jaye a big start,” promoter David “Diddy” Coffee said. “He went on to be a producer, a writer, the whole nine yards. He’s had a really good career.”

Miami-based gospel group Melvin Dawson and The Genesis Fellowship Delegation and the Special Formula Band are other key acts. Coffey said he never had a problem landing entertainment for the festival.

“For me, as a promoter and a manager, it’s a great experience,” Coffey said. “It’s a festival for all colors and nationalities and a great community event.”

Festival organizer Felecia Hampshire said about 5,000 people attended in 2018. She is aiming for 8,000 this year. She said Vera Francis Hall Park has the right amount of space for vendors and guests.

“That space allows us to spread out,” Hampshire said. “It’s important we utilize that park.”

The park was a dump that closed in the mid-1970s. Hampshire said as a child, she could always smell smoke from it.

“Green Cove Springs has really come up. They've really improved the quality of life on the west side of the community,” Hampshire said. “The park has brought a lot of positivity to the community. People enjoy having a place that’s accessible to people that live in the area.”

Though 2018’s CalaVida Music and Arts Festival ran on the same day, Hampshire said traffic went back and forth, a boon to both events. Hampshire has run the festival every year and it attracts visitors from New Orleans, Atlanta and Miami. Hampshire said the Soul Food Festival reminds her of childhood.

“We used to just have all the fun things going on the community where people would bring their families and let their hair down,” Hampshire said. “Good clean fun.”

The parade starts at Clay County Administration building at noon. Attendees are expected to line up at 10 a.m. Parade coordinator Debra Austin said she hopes to attract 300 people.

“I’ve contacted so many people, so I’m thinking positive,” Austin said.

Austin said the parade would honor Green Cove-born sculptor Augusta Savage and African-American history. She said the festival was always an exciting prospect.

“College kids come back for (the festival). It’s a special day for the community and people make a special effort to get here,” Austin said. “It’s been going for 18 years. That says a whole lot.”