‘It’s the talk of the town’: Festival draws thousands to Franklin
Published 6:17 pm Wednesday, September 14, 2022
Riverfront Soul Festival attendees start dancing to the music Saturday, Sept. 10, including the children in the foreground, as a packed crowd looks on at Barrett’s Landing. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
The second annual Riverfront Soul Festival drew almost 3,000 people across its three-day run from Sept. 9-11, including more than 2,000 on Saturday, Sept. 10, at Barrett’s Landing. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Roberta Branch, left, and her daughter, Kiara Cross, share smiles while attending the second annual Riverfront Soul Festival on Saturday, Sept. 10 at Barrett’s Landing. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Stopping for a photo at the Riverfront Soul Festival on Saturday, Sept. 10, are Edrea Dye and Donald Dye. Edrea is holding her dog, Aria. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Jasmine Hodges and Lawrence Everett enjoy the Riverfront Soul Festival on Saturday, Sept. 10, in downtown Franklin. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Riverfront Soul Festival organizer Dr. Eric Majette addresses the crowd Saturday, Sept. 10, at Barrett’s Landing. He thanked everyone for helping make it a special birthday weekend for him. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
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The Riverfront Soul Festival grew from a one-day event in its inaugural form in 2021 to a three-day event in 2022, with almost 3,000 people attending the event across its Sept. 9-11 run this year.
“The festival was absolutely amazing,” said Dr. Eric Majette, the festival’s founder and chief organizer.
The event started Friday with a health and wellness fair at Camp Community College’s Workforce Development Center.
“It was very well-sponsored,” Majette said. “A lot of folks came through throughout the day, great speakers.”
On Saturday, the festival moved to Barrett’s Landing, with live music, including R&B, jazz and more.
“Saturday was just epic, that’s all I can say,” Majette said. “We had more people on Saturday, over 2,000.”
On Sunday came a worship service and gospel music showcase that was originally planned to take place at Barrett’s Landing.
“We moved everything because of the weather report,” Majette said.
The festival’s partnership with Camp Community College was key in transitioning Sunday’s events indoors to the Workforce Development Center.
“The gospel showcase was strong, real strong,” Majette said.
He emphasized that attendees came from a wide variety of places, including northern Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
He also noted that the vendors involved with the event made good money, and he expressed gratitude to the city for its support of the festival.
“The city of Franklin, I’ve got to give them kudos — they embraced it,” he said.
He indicated that there will be television coverage highlighting the large crowd that came to Franklin.
“It’s the talk of the town,” he said. “God really blessed us.”
Majette already has preliminary plans for the third annual Riverfront Soul Festival.
“Next year we’re going to definitely expand it to another level,” he said. “Next year we’re going to be bringing in some national headliners.”
He noted this will include national R&B and jazz artists that will perform on Saturday and national gospel artists that will perform on Sunday.
“We’re adding another component to it, hopefully in partnership with Camp Community (College) — a golf tournament,” he said.
He also noted that the health and wellness emphasis will be back.
“We’re also going to be adding a kid’s zone, make it kid-friendly with bounce houses and all these other activities for children,” he said.
