Saturday’s 14th Gateway to the Delta Festival in Charleston was another great success for the event’s organizers, the Charleston Arts and Revitalization Effort, aka CARE, and the host city of Charleston and Tallahatchie County.
Since its inception, Gateway has never failed to impress. It is always so well planned, coordinated and implemented. An army of volunteers is involved every step of the way. Nothing is left to chance, although any endeavor of this magnitude, with so many moving parts, can experience a hiccup or two.
Gateway is a gathering unlike any other in Tallahatchie County and brings together thousands of people in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere for some 15 hours of laid-back mixing and mingling.
The entertainment, as it always is, was excellent this year.
The local New Town Missionary Baptist Church Choir again awed and inspired with their beautifully moving spiritual numbers.
The Shameless All-Star Country Band turned in a very shameless performance, and local singer Sir Kendrick (William Kindred) was also a big hit.
Local band S.L.A.S.H. likewise pleased the crowd with their unique blend of music and vocals featuring rock and Southern country favorites, followed by The Krackerjacks, aka “Party Band of the South,” who lived up to their reputation by throwing quite a musical party during their turn on stage.
Unfortunately, for the first time in the history of the festival, the day’s scheduled activities were cut short by the weather.
A stiff wind that challenged vendors throughout the day had forewarned of an approaching front. At night, a line of storms and heavy rain that was bearing down on the area forced the stage crew to pack it in shortly after 8 p.m. The last scheduled entertainment act of the night, The Band U.S., did not get to perform, which was disappointing not only for the gathered crowd but also for the band members themselves. Hopefully, they will get to come back to Gateway soon.
Main thing is, the crowd got to leave before the downpour and the sound and stage crews were able to protect their sensitive equipment from harm’s way.
We needed the rain, so we will give thanks to the Good Lord for that.
For the bulk of Gateway, from its 10 a.m. official opening until shortly after 8 that night, the weather was windy but conditions were dry.
All in all, at least from our vantage point, Gateway 14 was a rousing success.
