ROCK ISLAND, Ill — Day one of the first-ever "Soul of the City" event is in the books. The MLK Center's annual Family Fun Day has been a staple in the Rock Island community for decades. This year, it came back bigger than ever.
News 8's Joe Habersham spoke with MLK Center Executive Director Jerry Jones about the revamped event and why the organization chose to expand.
If you missed the festivities on Friday, no need to worry! More fun is planned for Saturday, Aug. 17. Find the details down below!
Previous reporting:
Two longtime annual events in the Quad Cities are joining forces for an event bigger than ever with a new name.
The inaugural "Soul of the City" outdoor community block party will take place Friday and Saturday, Aug. 16-17. Catch all the action at the Martin Luther King Center in Rock Island, located at the corner of 7th Avenue and 9th Street.
"Soul of the City" is combining MLK Center's annual Family Fun Day and Polyrhythms Bill Bell Jazz & Heritage Festival. Family Fun Day has been a staple in the community for 34 years with the jazz and heritage festival taking place for nine years.
The two groups have partnered with Rock Island Parks and Recreation, The West End Rib Fest, QC AIR Multicultural Celebration and the Rock Island County NAACP Community Resource to create the new, unique event.
Catch live music, a parade, food and merchant vendors, information booths, family-friendly activities and more. Here's a breakdown of the festivities.
Friday, Aug. 16:
Polyrhythms Bill Bell Jazz & Heritage Festival
5 p.m.: Intro/Drum Circle
6-6:45 p.m.: The Polyrhythms Trio plays the music of Bill Bell
6-7:30 p.m.: Black Authors Forum
7:15-8:15 p.m.: Jerm Theory
8:45-10 p.m.: John Miller & The Romaniacs
Saturday, Aug. 17:
MLK Center's Annual Family Fun Day & Parade: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Polyrhythms Bill Bell Jazz & Heritage Festival: 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
5-6 p.m.: Quad City Griots
6:30-7:30 p.m.: Semenya McCord & Frank Wilkins Show 1
8:30-10 p.m.: BYOBrass
Tune into The Current from 4 to 5 p.m. on weekdays to catch live interviews impacting you, your family and your hometown as well as all of the biggest headlines of the day.