Thousands fill Woodruff Park for Family Day Music Festival

Overcast skies and a few scattered showers didn’t dampen the excitement for thousands who filled Woodruff Park on Saturday for the 30th Annual Family Day Music Festival in downtown Columbus.

“I think it’s nice for the community,” said 23-year-old Brietta Bell, who has attended the festival over the last three years at Cooper Creek Park and the east parking lot at the Columbus Civic Center.

Sponsored by Davis Broadcasting Inc., the free event is held each year as part of Black Music Month in June. This year, organizers turned to the green space in front of the Riverside Theatre and along the Chattahoochee RiverWalk for the festival, which attracts young and old for a day of family fun.

Festivalgoers dotted the lawn with lawn chairs and colorful umbrellas for the 2-8 p.m. festival. Artists performed R&B, hip-hop, gospel and Southern soul music.

Geniece Granville, assistant general manager at Davis Broadcasting, was pleased with the number of families at the event.

“I’m seeing a lot of people coming out with their whole family and I love that,” she said while talking a break from the bouncy houses and other events for children. “I love the fact that people are enjoying the vendors. People came and set up and found their spots. I just think it’s going great.”

Although it was the first year the event was held on the river, Granville said the grass and green space made a big difference.

“It says we have been doing this for 30 years and it sounds like maybe the city is saying they would like for us to continue to do it,” she said. “So we look forward to doing it next year.”

Bell was smiling when Lil Dy-Dy took the stage.

“That’s my song,” she said.

Chris Rodgers, a 52-year-old resident of the Ralston, used his walker to get to the event for the first time.

“I really enjoyed it,” he said. “ It’s really nice. I like the music.”

Chris Shaw, 53, said the event on the riverfront is a step up from Cooper Creek Park and it’s also more convenient for people who don’t have transportation.

“A lot of people don’t have cars,” he said.

With many families on the river with small children, police kept an eye near the RiverWalk to make sure children did not wander from their group. Many listened to the music while lounging on inflatable tubes or paddle boards.

The festival was delayed twice for scattered showers rolling past the riverfront but rain didn’t impact the crowd. Organizers extended the festival to almost 9 p.m. to allow all the acts to perform. The largest crowd of the evening came for six-time, Grammy-nominated R&B singer and songwriter Kelly Price.

Rodgers said he’s already looking forward to the event next year.

“Every year,” he said, “I hope they have it.”

This story was originally published June 11, 2016 at 6:36 PM with the headline "Thousands fill Woodruff Park for Family Day Music Festival."