Family Day Music Festival gets revamped lineup, new location

Say goodbye to Family Day in the Park at Cooper Creek.

And say hello to Family Day Music Festival at the Columbus Civic Center Courtyard and South Commons.

Organizers said Friday it was time to move.

'We wanted to expand the event and provide more activities,' said Michael Soul, the program director for Davis Braodcasting Inc. 'And then we wanted to collaborate with the city with the ice rink, and, of course, the venue with the parking.'

Soul said he's hoping for about 5,000 to attend the event.

The move to the civic center could give a much-needed boost to the crowds that have fallen significantly below the average of 10,000 people. The last few years approximately 6,000 attended. Authorities said last year about 5,000 were there.

The free event is in its 28th year and will begin at 2 p.m. and run until 10 p.m. Parking is free and will be located in the two main parking lots of the civic center. Tailgating spots are available in parking lot F -- the usual spot during both the Fountain City Classic and Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic.

The temperature, like always, will be hot, with a high of 94 with a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms after 2 p.m.

Regular attendees will notice several new parts of the festival.

There will be a car and bike show, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, kids zone and teen challenge area along with free ice skating for the kids. Food and drink vendors will be on property throughout the day.

And the music list is bigger than ever, organizers say.

The Bar-Kays are headlining the main stage in the civic center's courtyard, which is directly behind the civic center and right by the RiverWalk. Randy Gill, Dave Tolliver and more will open on that stage around 8 p.m.

Soul said he hopes the new location and bigger event will bring back some of those who may have attended in the past.

'Some people that came out before are now grown,' Soul said. 'We were thinking, 'How can we bring them back into the fold and offer something for everyone?' With this one, we're able to do that with the car and bike show and the gospel, jazz and blues.

Soul is particularly excited about The Bar-Kays headlining its first Family Day Musical Festival.

'When you think about groups nowadays, they don't really exist,' he said. 'These guys have stayed together since the '70s. They're going to put it down.'IF YOU GO

FAMILY DAY MUSIC FESTIVAL

When: today, 2-10 p.m.

Where: Columbus Civic Center Courtyard (behind civic center) and South Commons, 400 Fourth Street

Parking: Two main lots in front of civic center

Cost: Admission and parking are free with food and beverage vendors available

Online: dbiradio.comSCHEDULE2-5 p.m.

* First Family Day Music Festival Car and Bike Show -- Parking Lot D

* ESPN 95.7/CBS Sports Radio 1580AM 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament -- Parking Lot E

* Foxie 105 Family Day Sound Stage -- Parking Lot D

Artists Scheduled to Perform: Yung Joc, Mila J, Quill, Que, A1 Supergroup, Jody Breeze, Rae Sremmurd, Spencer -- Talent Showcase and Maria Verdell -- Talent Showcase

2-6 p.m.

Annual Family Day Music Festival Kids Zone

4-7 p.m.

FREE Ice Skating for Children with the Columbus Cottonmouths -- Columbus Civic Center Ice Skating Rink

5:30-7:30 p.m.

Praise 100.7 Gospel Stage -- Columbus Civic Center Courtyard

Artists Schedule to Perform: Devon Baker, Josilyn Drake, David Daughtry, Pastor Brock Taylor, Men of God's Heart, Cassey J, No Compromise, Estee, Patrick Dopson, The Showers, Love and Faith Fellowship and Monica Stevenson

7:30-8 p.m.

WOKS AM1340 Jazz and Blues Stage -- Columbus Civic Center Courtyard

Artists Scheduled to Perform: Kenyan Williams, Willie Beechman and Angel Russell

8-10 p.m.

K92.7 R&B Sound Stage -- Columbus Civic Center Courtyard

Artists Scheduled to Perform: Randy Gill, Dave Tolliver, Antonique Smith, Anthony David and The Bar-Kays

Entities 0 Name: Columbus Civic Center Courtyard Artists Schedule Count: 3 1 Name: Dave Tolliver Count: 2 2 Name: South Commons Count: 2 3 Name: Bar-Kays Count: 2 4 Name: Randy Gill Count: 2 5 Name: Cooper Creek Count: 1 6 Name: David Daughtry Count: 1 7 Name: Columbus Cottonmouths Count: 1 8 Name: Estee Count: 1 9 Name: Monica Stevenson Count: 1 10 Name: Devon Baker Count: 1 11 Name: Angel Russell Count: 1 12 Name: Columbus Civic Center Courtyard Count: 1 13 Name: Cassey J Count: 1 14 Name: Antonique Smith Count: 1 15 Name: Mila J Count: 1 16 Name: Willie Beechman Count: 1 17 Name: Davis Braodcasting Inc. Count: 1 18 Name: Patrick Dopson Count: 1 19 Name: Maria Verdell Count: 1 20 Name: Josilyn Drake Count: 1 21 Name: Yung Joc Count: 1 22 Name: Anthony David Count: 1 23 Name: Michael Soul Count: 1 24 Name: Spencer Count: 1 25 Name: Kenyan Williams Count: 1 26 Name: Rae Sremmurd Count: 1 27 Name: CBS Sports Radio Count: 1 28 Name: Jody Breeze Count: 1 29 Name: Brock Taylor Count: 1 30 Name: Faith Fellowship Count: 1 31 Name: Quill Count: 1 Related Keywords 0 Name: civic Score: 80 1 Name: courtyard Score: 46 2 Name: columbus Score: 45 3 Name: parking Score: 38 4 Name: center Score: 34 5 Name: bar-kays Score: 30 6 Name: festival Score: 28 7 Name: soul Score: 28 8 Name: music Score: 23 9 Name: skating Score: 21 Authors Media Images 0