Overtown sings
Music, food and art at annual festival.
Music fans can see Estelle, Tito Puente Jr., Musiq Soulchild, Ginuwine, Ayo & Teo, K. Michelle and Jon B. in concert for free on Saturday at the Overtown Music and Arts Festival.
The annual street festival also will feature food booths, art installations, crafts and handcrafted jewelry vendors and a barbecue cook-off. Overtown was the center of African-American business and entertainment in Miami during the racially segregated Jim Crow era.
Mussadiq Muhammed is the festival’s food and special-event coordinator fand owner of House of Wings restaurant and Mavericks Tonsorial Parlor barbershop, both in Overtown. He recently responded to questions about the festival by email.
Why did you create this event in 2014?
Because we knew the rich history of Overtown, and we wanted to recreate and brand an area that gets no publicity.
What is new this year with the festival?
We have a major act for the Youth Zone (Ayo & Teo) performing this year. It’s almost outshining or gaining more attention than the main stage. The growth of our children’s compartment is something that we haven’t seen before. It’s something to be proud of.
Is there anything else you’d like readers to know about the Overtown Music and Arts Festival?
It is free. Every year we are growing tremendously and reshaping the way people and tourists think of Overtown. Overtown is now returning to its rich history of hotels, food and entertainment. Overtown Music and Arts Festival will take place 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday in Overtown’s Business and Entertainment District, at Northwest Second and Third avenues between Northwest Eighth and 10th streets. Admission is free. Go to OvertownMusic ArtsFestival.com.