The Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center will host its annual Soul of the City this Friday and Saturday at its center and MLK Jr. Park in Rock Island.
MLK Center Executive Director Jerry Jones says the festival is for people of all ages.
"Thanks to partnerships with some great organizations, this year will be bigger than ever," Jones said in a press release sent to WVIK. "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."
The event is a collaboration between the MLK Center, Polyrhythms, NAACP of Rock Island and the Rock Island Parks and Recreation Department.
The first part of the celebration will be from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and include food and merchandise vendors, a community resource fair, and live entertainment.
On Saturday, a parade will commence at 10 a.m. at the Frances Willard Elementary School and head north along 9th Street, concluding at the MLK Center at 9th Street and 7th Avenue.
Other events at the celebration include performances by the Polyrhythms and the Marching Storm marching band from Lincoln University, located in Jefferson City, MO.
Kids can enjoy bounce houses and STEM bus activities, including a virtual welding station.
Community members, including Rock Island Police Chief Timothy McCloud, will participate in a dunk tank from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Celebrations continue until 10 p.m. Saturday.
You can find more information about the two-day festival on the organization's website.
