Gospel music festival set for Sept. 27 in Rockingham
Staff report
ROCKINGHAM — Rockingham City Council members Denise Sullivan, John Hutchinson and Mayor Steve Morris, along with former mayor and now state Sen. Gene McLaurin, will be among the new additions of the Holy Smoke BBQ and Music Festival on Sept. 27.
Members of the Cameronian Quartet include Mike Snead, Dan Allen, Kenneth Lynch and Tommy Criscoe.
Along with Pastor Mike Sykes, each of the aforementioned individuals likely has attended the music festival in the past — but not while sitting in the celebrity dunk tank. Now in its 15th year, music remains central to the success of the outdoor music festival at First United Methodist Church, 401 E. Washington St., in downtown Rockingham.
The event is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. From the start, the Collisons Trio will be on stage, followed by the FUMC Children and Youth at noon. At 12:30 p.m., the Freedom Baptist Church Praise Band will perform for an hour, followed by a 30-minute show by the Cameronian Quartet. At 2 p.m., the Fortress Praise Band from Glenwood United Methodist Church round out the day’s live performances.
In 30-minute segments, the local celebrities will open themselves up to being a target of more than political differences. Sullivan goes first at 12:30 p.., followed by Morris at 1 p.m., McLaurin at 1:30 p.m., Hutchinson at 2 p.m. and Sykes at 2:30 p.m.
Along with Caleb Cook making balloon animals, the festival will offer a children’s area with a bounce house, face painting, games and the church playground.
Barbecue and hot dog plates will be available for $7 each. Master barbecue chef Wiley Mabe is on the grill, while Tim Capel chairs the music committee and Sheila Gilmore is overseeing the children’s area and dunk tank.
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