Saturday’s 13th Gateway to the Delta Festival in Charleston placed another big, fluffy feather in the cap of the event organizers, the Charleston Arts and Revitalization Effort, aka CARE.
Since its inception, Gateway has never failed to impress. It is always so well planned, coordinated and executed. Nothing is left to chance, although any endeavor of this magnitude, with so many moving parts, can experience a hiccup or two.
The Good Lord smiled on this year’s festival with beautiful weather from start to finish.
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 always, was excellent.
The local New Town Missionary Baptist Church Choir awed and inspired with their beautifully moving spiritual numbers.
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.
The Krackerjacks, Muddy Alexander, the Dukes of Country and Aquanet also did their part to keep the Charleston Court Square crowd energized.
There is something inspiring about Gateway after dark, when the flashing lights on the entertainment stage play a more active role in the show.
Juxtapose that against the stately white columns of the nearby Tallahatchie County Courthouse, with a huge crowd of engaged spectators in between, and the scene becomes simply magical.
That's Gateway: Tallahatchie magic!
