Cottrell Street Music & Heritage Festival
May 10th and 11th 2024
What is the cottrell street festival and why is it important to the public?
Between the late 1940's and early 1980's, West Point's Cottrell Street area, situated in the heart of the black community known as "Methodist Town", was the hub of Black business, entertainment, and social life in West Point.
By the early 1960's, Cottrell Street was also the center for political and Civil Rights activities in Northeast Mississippi. It was the region's headquarters for the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), it attracted such civil rights luminaries as Bob Moses, Ralph Featherstone and H. Rap Brown's baby brother, Ed.
From his Clay Community Development Program (CCDP) office, SNCC organizer John Buffington launched one of the state’s first mayor’s race run by an African American candidate.
For several decades, Cottrell Street thrived with entertainment. cafes, small businesses and social activities, drawing visitors from all across the country.
Unfortunately, Cottrell Street, like other popular business and entertainment districts, succumbed to the influences of crime, drugs and unsavory activities, and was eventually leveled.
Fulfilling his first campaign pledge, West Point Mayor Rod Bobo has assembled and organized a Steering Committee to hold an annual festival to honor the businesses, business owners, establishments, juke joints, and colorful characters who still inhabit the air
and environment of a now-empty thoroughfare.
The Cottrell Street Music and Heritage Festival will bring life back to the Cottrell Street area again.
Vendors & Live Music
Located at Cottrell Street, West Point, MS 39773
Cottrell Street Chairmen
The people behind it all!
Carolyn Poston
Johnnie Jackson
Board members
Willie Sykes Olivia Binder Bridgit Webb Cynthia Head Michael Rice Vernita Edwards
Margaret Shelton
Sponsors
The Cottrell Street Music and Heritage Festival
ORGANIZATION NAME
Section 1:
The name of the organization shall be: The Cottrell Street Music and Heritage Festival
GENERAL PURPOSE
Section 1:
The Purpose of the Cottrell Street Music Heritage Festival is to plan, coordinate and hold an annual music, heritage, cultural and historical festival in the Cottrell Street Area Historic District of West Point, Mississippi, to recognize and commemorate the businesses, business owners, residents and historical significance of Cottrell Street and the Cottrell Street Area Historic District . The Cottrell Street Area Historic District shall be defined as the geographical area one-half mile to the north, south, east and west of Cottrell Street in West Point, Mississippi.
Section 2:
This corporation is organized as a non-profit entity exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and historical preservation purposes, including, for such purposes as receiving contributions and sponsorships, and distributing contributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations as non-profit, and under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
2024…
2023…
This program is financially assisted by the National Endowment for the Humanities through the Mississippi Humanities Council.
The 3rd annual Cottrell Street Music and Heritage Festival T-shirts are finally here!
They will be available for purchase at the festival for $20 a t-shirt!
Schedule of Events
Friday May 12th
• 10:00am - Historical Symposium
Northside Christian Church
Symposium featured speakers include:
• Mr. Alvin Quinn, Tax Consultant,
1st school of choice during Integration
• Mr. James Stewart, Retired, Dean of Student
Development, Bethel University of TN,
former Dean of Students, Mary Holmes College
• Mrs. Shirley Williams, Retired Educator, during Civil Rights Movement
• Mr. Roger McFarland,
veteran Political Activist, Freedom Schools
• Mr. James Hull, Civil Rights Veteran,
President & CEO, Coalition for Change
• Ms. Trenyla Brewer, Moderator,
Alabama State University Alumni
• 3:00pm - Vendor's Set up
• 6:00pm - Festival Gates Open
• 7:00pm - Stage Entertainment Begins
- Shontell
- Tre' Williams
- West Love
2022…
May 13th
• 9:00am - Parade - "Back in Stride Again"
• Festival Gates Open immediately after parade
•12:00pm - Gospel Entertainment Begins
- Randy Conley & Gifted
- Sonya Orr and Friends
- Alphonso D. Bowen
• 7:00pm - Stage Entertainment Begins
- Logan "The Entertainer"
- Omar Cunningham
- JWonn
Historical symposium-"This program is financially
assisted by the National Endowment for the
Humanities through the Mississippi Humanities
Council" as well as funds from The 100 Women
Who Care of Clay County Mississippi
FESTIVAL NEARS, FEATURES HISTORICAL SYMPOSIUM AND PARADE
This weekend’s 3-day Cottrell Street Music and Heritage Festival in West Point features family enjoyment ranging from a parade to a historical symposium.
The Festival opens on Friday, May 6th at 5 pm, Saturday, May 7th at 10am and Sunday, May 8th at 1pm. A Historical Symposium titled: “The impact of West Point and Cottrell Street on the Mississippi Civil Movement.”
“We will have a combination of individual speakers and panel discussions,” explained Mrs. Margaret Shelton festival chair. The idea is to explore our history and put it in context with our current experiences.
Symposium featured speakers include:
Dr. D’Andre Orey, Chairman of the Political Science department at Jackson State University
Dr. Roshunda Harris Allen, Assistant Professor of Education at Tougaloo College
Rev. Wendell Paris, civil rights veteran who spearheaded a minority recruitment and training project on the under-construction Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway
Local Assistant District Attorney P. Trina Davidson-Brooks
State Representatives Kabir Karriem and Chiekh Taylor
Voting Rights activist Leroy Johnson
The festival kicks off Saturday morning with a parade, which commences at the Sav-A-Lot parking lot, goes east in Main Street, then ends up on Cottrell Street in front of Northside Christian Church.
“Northside Church is the site for the symposium” said Mrs. Shelton.
“We need to really get in touch with West Point’s history and small towns like it. And, what a lot of people don’t know is West Point and Cottrell Street were the hub of their Civil Rights Movement in North Mississippi”
Anyone wishing to view the parade should be on Main Street no later than 8:00am, Saturday.