GREEN COVE SPRINGS — The Soul Food and Musical Festival is back in its 24th consecutive year for a "boot stompin" good time.

On Saturday, Oct. 4, the community is invited to Vera Francis Hall Park from noon to 7 p.m. 

The free event will begin with a parade along Palmetto Avenue and west on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, followed by a plethora of scheduled activities at the park, including a barbecue rib cook-off, dance contest, Spades contest and horseshoe toss.

There will be a Children's Fun Zone and door prizes.

In addition to various food vendors, the event will also include live music throughout, presented by DJ Trans, Liz Owens, The Special Formula Band, Soulfull Roots Band, Chris Soul, Jimmy Brown and Curtis Reynolds. Brown is from the iconic '70s funk and jazz band Brick, while Reynolds is known for his time in Kalmozoo's Ripple. There will also be a Gospel hour.

For the first time, the festival also announced a new feature where businesses and individuals could opt to be advertised on its running message board throughout the day, courtesy of Sound Manager Reginald Dantzler. 

The Soul Food and Music Festival is a 501 (c) (3) organization, established in 2002 by a group of community volunteers with Breaking Away the Cycle of Pain (BATCOP).

Co-Founders and Festival Coordinators Felecia and Clarence Hampshire later resumed annual duties. It has since grown to more than 3,000 attendees yearly.

Vendor and parade applications are still available. To apply, visit greencovesprings.com and click on the Soul Food Festival link under Special Events.

For additional information, contact Felecia Hampshire at (904) 622-7903, Entertainment Director Diddy Coffee at (904) 525-6386 or Parade Coordinator Debra Austin at (904) 599-5236.