Despite the eventual arrival of heavy rain, Vicksburg was abuzz with activities this weekend.

Thousands packed into Washington Street over two days for the 28th annual RiverFest, and though the crowed had slimmed and was soaked by 10 p.m. Saturday, headliner Craig Wayne Boyd put on an excellent performance to close out the weekend full of family fun.

We felt the RiverFest vibe was best summed up by Chris Landry, who left his loft apartment on Washington Street to enjoy sitting in a beanbag chair in the middle of Washington and China Streets on the first night of the annual street party.

“It’s fantastic. I like where I live, but I feel this is the best use I’m going to get out of the place all year,” Landry said.

RiverFest really is Vicksburg’s best use of the historic downtown all year. It draws visitors from across the region, and we are always surprised at home many first-time visitors we run across each year waiting for the music to begin.

The weekend, however, was far more than just RiverFest.

Alcorn State University sponsored a its impeccable ASU JazzFest at the Vicksburg Convention Center headlined by Ron Carter and his “Golden Striker” Trio. The festival always brings world-class jazz entertainment to Vicksburg while allowing students from around the county to showcase their skills.

If that wasn’t enough entertainment, Blackburn Motors sponsored a Vicksburg Cruisers’ annual Red Carpet Classic Auto Show to raise money for Haven House family shelter.

“We do a lot of things for charity, and we try to help promote the City of Vicksburg and draw people to Vicksburg, because it’s a pretty place,” Vicksburg Cruisers president Billy Ray Parker said.

Promoting Vicksburg is exactly what our community needs to do. And this past weekend, the town certainly did a good job of it.