Colorful umbrellas dotted the landscape outside Alabama A&M University’s Louis Crews football stadium even though no rain was forecast for the 18th annual WEUP Black Arts Festival.

With the temperature reaching 96 degrees, it was a scorcher, but it didn’t stop people of all ages from enjoying the music, art and food at the new location for the festival, which had been held at the WEUP studio on Jordan Lane since its inception.

People came from miles around. Quaya Sheppard and Melissa Hogan drove from Kentucky to see the group Chunk A Change perform Saturday afternoon.

"It’s nice, but it is hot," said Hogan, 26, who is friends with Chunk A Change band member James Varna. "It’s much more than I expected, and there is something for everyone. I was just hoping to see some up-and-coming talent, but there are some really good groups here."

Sheppard’s fianc, Rich Taurence, plays with Chunk A Change. She said they were searching for some chairs and a shady place to sit.

"I will definitely come back next year and will bring more friends with us," said Sheppard, 25.

Along with the music, there was plenty of artwork and other items to view or purchase, ranging from belts and beads to T-shirts and tennis shoes. And seemingly half the vendors were selling sunglasses, a hot commodity on a bright day.

Potter Wallace Turman of Huntsville, who attended Alabama A&M, was one artisan who attracted a variety of ages with his pottery-making skills.

"It’s a stress reliever," said Turman, a supervisor in the operations department at the Von Braun Center. He has been at many of the festivals and said the new location is "100 percent better."

For vendors such as Buffalo Rock and Merle’s Fresh Squeezed Lemonade, business was slow earlier in the day, but had picked up by midafternoon.

"A lot of people were buying drinks earlier, but now they’ve started buying food," said Jana Robinson of Buffalo Roc, who said they are "absolutely glad" to be in the new location which is several times larger than at the WEUP studio grounds on Jordan Lane.

The heat had taken its toll on a few festivalgoers, said Huntsville Police Lt. Mark McMurray, who was working inside the gates.

"That’s about five," he said when listening to his police radio report another person with apparent heat exhaustion.

A youngster was sitting nearby in the shade, suffering from dehydration, said McMurray.

"His mom didn’t send any money with him, and we’ve had to provide him with water," said McMurray. "Don’t send your kids out here without money, so they can stay hydrated."

McMurray is pleased with the new location because of so much more space available, especially for parking.

"It’s more centrally located, and it seems to serve the community real well," he said. "The parking is much better, and it is much more spread out and a more relaxed atmosphere."

Categories: Huntsville
Tags: