A City in Celebration: The Legacy and Love Behind Jackson’s May Day Festival

This spring, the city of Jackson will once again embrace a Westside Civic Engagement Club (WSCC) tradition that is quickly becoming one of the Westside neighborhood’s most enduring and beloved community gatherings: the annual May Day Festival. Now celebrating its 37th year, the festival returns May 1 and May 2, bringing with it a powerful reminder of what happens when Jackson communities show up for one another.

What began decades ago as a modest gathering organized by a few local churches, just a couple of tables and a shared idea, has grown into one of the largest community festivals in the city. Today, the WSCC continues to host May Day as a two-day celebration that blends tradition, faith and fellowship with the energy of a full-scale festival. But at its core, its purpose has remained the same: it is for the people.  

The weekend begins Friday, May 1, with a gospel explosion inside the Westside Community Gym. From praise dancers to gospel quartets and community choirs, the evening is designed as a moment of reflection and gratitude, a time to come together in worship before the festivities begin. This year’s program will also include a special dedication of the newly renovated gym floor, named in honor of longtime community servant Trent Stringer, recognizing a legacy of service that mirrors the spirit of the festival itself.  

On Saturday, May 2, the celebration moves outdoors with a parade kicking off at 10 a.m., followed by a full day of activities that will run into the late afternoon. Families can expect vendors, games for children, a car show and plenty of opportunities to connect. Organizers say the event often feels like a family reunion, with attendees traveling from out of state each year just to be part of it.  

According to organizers, May Day is not about spotlighting a single organization or neighborhood, but about connecting different neighborhoods from around the city by creating space for conversation and community pride across Jackson. It is where neighbors talk about everything from family and faith to the future of their children and grandchildren, and where inter-neighborhood relationships are either formed or strengthened. 

Seymore Bell shared: “It’s about bringing people together in a great, positive atmosphere where they can talk, fellowship and show love for one another.” 

Sustaining an event of this scale, however, requires far more than a single weekend of planning. The work begins almost immediately after the festival ends. Each year, organizers gather at their next community meeting to evaluate what worked and begin preparing for the following year. Committees are formed to handle everything from coordinating the parade to securing vendors, managing permits, organizing security and working with city and county partners.  

It is a collective effort that stretches across generations. Youth and adults alike are encouraged to volunteer, reinforcing the idea that May Day is not just an event, but a shared bond that is rooted in connection.  Even the act of organizing the festival becomes a form of community building, strengthening relations among those who work behind the scenes to bring it to life.

When asked about the legacy of the event, Seymore Bell said, “We try to embed it in our children so they can continue it for the future. It’s like a seed that we plant and come back to nourish.” 

This year’s parade will feature Grand Marshal Herticle Thomas. She and her husband John Thomas are longtime community members recognized for their dedication and service. This selection reflects a broader philosophy behind the festival: giving people their flowers while they are still here to receive them.

As May Day approaches, organizers are extending an open invitation across the city. You do not have to live in the neighborhood to attend, volunteer or participate. In fact, they encourage residents from every corner of Jackson to come and experience it for themselves.  

“Sometimes it’s almost like a family reunion. We have people who come from out of state every year just for this event,” Seymore Bell said. 

Because at its heart, May Day is about connection, not just in a neighborhood, but across the city as a whole. It is a call for residents to take pride in Jackson, to support one another. 

To learn more, please visit the Westside Community and Civic Club Facebook page.