Markeshia Ricks Photo
Alder Jill Marks sings at City Hall Monday.
Beaver Hills Alder Jill Marks raised her voice City Hall to sing a little bit of “We’re Going to Make It.” The goal: To encourage people to make it to this year’s Gospel Fest New Haven.
Marks joined Mayor Toni Harp and members of the city’s Christian clergy to announce that Gospel Fest is back and coming up in just nine days. The event will be held at De Gale Field at Goffe Street Park Aug. 4 – 5.
It marks a return for the festival after having been on hiatus since 2010. (Read a story about that last festival here.)
The festival began started in 1998. At its height, the festival attracted gospel heavyweights like Donnie McClurkin and Yolanda Adams.
The Rev. Morris.
This year’s event will feature not only gospel music but a talent competition, vendors and exhibitors, guest speakers, and workshops. Mayor Harp also announced that there also will be a carnival. Featured performers for this year’s event include The Walls Group, the Rance Allen Group, and 40 other acts. The event is sponsored by the city along with the Christian Community Commission, the New Haven Clergy Association, Yale Health, and New Haven Festivals Inc.
“Gospel Fest embodies what New Haven resident do the best — projects and in this case planning special uplighting events greater than the sum of all their individual parts,” Harp said. “I hope city residents and gospel music lovers from throughout the region will make the time that weekend to enjoy the annual gospel showcase.
City arts and culture czar Andy Wolf with Fire Chief John Alston Jr.
The Rev. Donald Morris, the pastor of Life Kingdom Outreach Ministries and the executive director of Christian Community Commission, said the Gospel Fest serves as an outreach effort into the community.
“Gospel Fest New Haven is the largest gospel music festival statewide drawing thousands of people from all walks of life to be spiritually uplifted and to enjoy the many family activities while enjoying some of the greatest gospel artists from around the country,” he said. “The objective of Gospel Fest New Haven is to celebrate the historical tradition of gospel music, to provide a spiritual and social alliance other churches in the city and community at large while using the celebration as a vehicle to address such issues as education, health care, youth development and family betterment programs.”
Marks, who helped organize the 100 Voice Unity Choir that will also perform, encourage people to come out, especially young people.
“Bring the kids out,” she said.
Watch the Facebook live of Marks singing and the entire press conference below.