Heritage and Harmony Festival brings 3 days of gospel, blues, eclectic tunes to north Flint

FLINT, Michigan — Look for an even bigger Heritage and Harmony Festival when it returns for its second year with an eclectic variety of music including gospel and blues July 2-4. 

The three-day festival also will include food and resource vendors in the heart of north Flint’s Civic Park neighborhood. The stage along Dayton Street is decked out with a new signage, lighting, and reinforced platform — the final step in setting an anchor entertainment zone as part of ongoing efforts to revive north Flint as a destination spot, said Maurice Davis, a festival organizer, city councilman and King of the Party Blues performer.

“I am actually lifelong resident as well as an entertainer in the city,” Davis said. “Years ago we used to have festivals on the north end. … We used to draw 5,000 to 12,000 folks but now that’s been gone for many years, and we’re bringing that back.” 

Each day offers a different genre of music starting with gospel on July 2, blues on July 3, and a blend of music styles on July 4. The event runs 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily and is free to attend. Food and vendor merchandise is available for purchase.

Heritage and Harmony is one of several events included in the year-long celebration in the Civic Park neighborhood of its centennial. Once prosperous neighborhood, Civic Park now is home to large swaths of greenery that used to be family homes. The school, built to be the heart of the neighborhood, now sits closed and empty. It is also home to multiple neighborhood and religious organizations working to better the community.

The festival will allow for people in and outside the neighborhood to fill those empty spaces with their audienceship and sense of unity, Davis said. 

“We are removing all that stigma and showing We are showing hope and resiliency of the neighborhood,” said Davis.

Heritage and Harmony is one of several neighborhood events started in recent years, including a trunk or treat at Halloween and a Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Davis has promised for months that this year’s festival will be even bigger than its inaugural year.

Sponsors include the Ruth Mott Foundation, Kettering University, and the Community Foundation of Greater Flint.

For more information visit the Heritage and Harmony Facebook page or contact Beverly Davis at (810) 813-2138 or touring@netzero.net.