The 22nd Annual Riverfest kicked off in downtown Vicksburg Friday evening under partly cloudy skies, but festival President Terisa Cochran said attendance — estimated in the thousands — did not appear to be curbed by the chance of rain.

“Nobody is scared of a little rain,” Cochran said around 8:30 Friday night. “It’s packed, and the crowd is still picking up. People are streaming into the ticket booths. This is what I anticipated, and I’m very happy with the turnout.”    

Performing Friday night were Vicksburg staples The Chill and The Patrick Smith Band. Headliner Andy Griggs, a country musician from West Monroe, La., was tapped at the last minute to replace Clarence Carter, who cancelled on Tuesday due to an unspecified emergency.

On a break from volunteering at the festival, Joe and Jerri Mocknick were near the stage as The Chill jump-started the evening’s entertainment around 7. The Vicksburg couple said they come to Riverfest nearly every year, and look forward to the festival as much for the old friends they see as for the music.

“It’s a great time — the people, the atmosphere, the music — we enjoy it all,” Joe Mocknick said. “We always see a lot of people we haven’t seen in years.”

While the weather held out Friday night, the forecast for today is not as encouraging with a 70 percent chance of showers, with strong thunderstorms possible, before noon. By this evening, the chance of rain increases

“It’s going to go around us,” Cochran said optimistically of the forecast.

All daytime Riverfest events slated for today — including the arts and crafts show, Rally on the River bike rally, GospelFest, street performers and other downtown activities — will go on rain or shine, Cochran said.

Free Riverfest activities on Washington Street begin at 10 this morning and last until 4 p.m. In the 1100 block of Washington Street, chainsaw artist Burt Fleming of Zachary, La., will create three sculptures to be raffled off, newspaper cartoonist Ricky Nobile will draw caricatures and Vicksburg author Joshua Jones will sign his book, “No One to Wash Her Hair,” at Lorelei Books, 1103 Washington St., at 2 p.m. Downtown merchants will have sidewalk sales along Washington Street.

This evening’s concerts, which include performances by C.L.O.S.E.R., Anthony Walls and headliner Aaron Tippin, will also go on regardless of the weather. Tickets are available at the door for $20, and gates on Crawford Street open at 6 p.m.

Approximately 100 vendors will display their works along Walnut, South and Crawford streets from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the 41st annual Vicksburg-Warren County Riverfest Arts & Crafts Show today. The second annual Rally On The River will feature a bike show atop the Walnut Street parking ramp all afternoon. A dice run and walk will also take place at area businesses as part of the motorcycle rally, which raises awareness about and money for child abuse prevention efforts. The Bluz Cruz, a 22-mile river race that begins in Madison Parish, will conclude at City Front this afternoon as well.

Unrelated to Riverfest, the 29th annual Alcorn State University Jazz Festival will also take place today at the Vicksburg Convention Center. Eleven high school and college bands will perform throughout the day, beginning at 9 a.m. An hour-long workshop with headlining musicians will take place at 4 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. show featuring jazz musicians Dee Dee Bridgewater, Geri Allen, Terri Lyne Carrington, Esperanza Spalding and Grace Kelly. All events are free.

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Contact Steve Sanoski at ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com