MLK Center hosts Soul of the City celebration

The Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center (MLK Center) is hosting its annual Soul of the City on Friday, August 16 from 5-10 p.m., and Saturday, August 17 from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. at the MLK Center and MLK Jr Park, both located at Ninth Street and Seventh Avenue in Rock Island The event was formerly known as Family Fun Day and celebrates all cultures and strength in families and community. The event is a collaboration among the MLK Center, Polyrhythms, NAACP of Rock Island County, and Rock Island Parks & Recreation.

“Soul of the City is a festival for people of all ages,” said MLK Center Executive Director Jerry Jones. “Thanks to partnerships with some great organizations, this year will be bigger than ever. We’re inviting the entire Quad Cities to join this free community event, and to experience some of the best of what Rock Island has to offer.”

Events at Soul of the City 2024 include:

• The Polyrhythms Bill Bell Jazz & Heritage Festival
• The Marching Storm marching band from Lincoln University (Jefferson City, MO), a historically Black university
• STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) bus and activities for kids including a virtual welding station, presented by the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) & John Deere Davenport Works
• A multicultural celebration by QC Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees (QCAIR), including fashion, food, art, dance, and jewelry
• Food and merchandise vendors
• Black authors’ forum and book fair
• A performance from the Dynamic Status Gems
• A community resource fair
• Bounce houses and other children’s activities
• Live entertainment
• A dunk tank
• A community health forum on the topic of lupus

The parade starts on August 17 at 10 a.m. at Frances Willard Elementary School, Ninth Street and 25 ^th Avenue. It will head north along Ninth Street and will end at the MLK Center. The parade’s Grand Marshall will be the 2024 “I Have a Dream” award winner, Dr. John Hildreth of Augustana College.

Food vendors that will be on site include:

• Stan’s Ice Cream,
• Fuego Taco,
• Burrage Smoked BBQ & Catering,
• Mr. Wings,
• Ezy’s,
• Smokin Goodness,
• Delicias y sabores,
• Good Food,
• Aguas Frescas Camila,
• Chill On Wheels By Mani,
• Sweet Shardae, and
• Uncle Moe’s Catfish.

Merchants that will be at the event include:

• My Beautiful Fluff,
• CharmCharmz of Destiny Ari’e,
• Nika Loves,
• A Touch of Heaven Development,
• 151 Permanent Style,
• Sweetest Soul Candles,
• Moore Divahs,
• Laura’s Blings, Rings, and Things,
• June50 style,
• Rock Island Boxing Club,
• Lohko Sweet/ Studio of Relaxation,
• Aetna Insurance, and
• Illinois Freedom Alliance.

Several booksellers will also be at the event, including:

• Angela Dixon,
• Elois Wilson,
• LaFayia Barnum,
• Nichole Collins Payney,
• Shellie Moore Guy, and
• Victoria Traylor.

Special guests scheduled for the dunk tank include:

Click here for more on the Martin Luther King Center, including events and programs.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.