Jazz Fest, Old Courthouse Flea Market organizers reschedule events due to virus concerns

Published 1:58 pm Monday, March 30, 2020

Two more annual springtime events have been added to the growing list of events impacted by the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

The Alcorn State University Jazz Festival and the Old Court House Museum Flea Market will not be held in April, organizers for the events said.

The flea market, held twice a year, in October and April, is the major source of funding for the museum. Bubba Bolm, Old Court House Museum director and curator, said the flea market, which was scheduled for April 25, has been canceled. He said the flea market is approaching its 40th year.

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“We called all of our vendors and had to tell them that it was going to be canceled,” he said. “We transferred a lot of them over to our October event, and those who didn’t want to transfer, we gave credit.”

He said the October flea market, set for Oct. 3, will go on. “October’s going to definitely happen,” he said.

Dr. David Miller, director of the Alcorn Jazz Festival, said the event was rescheduled for Oct. 15-17 and includes an outdoor concert in Vicksburg.

“We’re just glad that they’re able to reschedule it later on in the year; it’s always a great event and we hope that it will be well-attended,” Vicksburg Convention Center Executive Director Annette Kirklin said.

“This is the first year we’re going to be a three-day festival,” Miller said. “Hopefully we’ll be able to use all three of those days.”

After kicking off at Alcorn State Oct. 15, the festival will move to Vicksburg Oct. 16, for “Jazz at Sunset” at Washington Street Park featuring the Southeast Jazz All-Stars, Alcorn State jazz groups and other groups. In the event of bad weather, the program will be moved to the Convention Center.

Oct. 17 will feature performances by school bands from across the area, a workshop presented by singer Cassandra Wilson followed by a concert by Wilson at 8 p.m.

About John Surratt

John Surratt is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in general studies. He has worked as an editor, reporter and photographer for newspapers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post staff since 2011 and covers city government. He and his wife attend St. Paul Catholic Church and he is a member of the Port City Kiwanis Club.

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