Gospel on the Plaza & Soul Food Festival • Friday-Saturday • La Villita

After taking off 2013, the Soul Food Festival & Gospel on the Plaza returns to La Villita’s Maverick Plaza this weekend. Friday night, it’s the Gospel on the Plaza (6 p.m.-11 p.m.) — an evening of music by local choirs. The Soul Food Festival kicks in at 11 a.m.-midnight Saturday. Both days, roughly 10 food booths will offer fried chicken, collard greens, red beans and rice, fried fish, brisket, ribs, etc. As for beverages, the Gospel on the Plaza is a nonalcoholic event. For the Soul Food fest, however, beer and margaritas will be offered. A few arts and crafts booths and other vendors round out the participants.

Attendees are asked to bring a canned food item to be donated to the Little Church of La Villita or the San Antonio Food Bank. They’re also asked to bring lawn chairs as seating likely is limited.

“The event has grown quite a bit,” said Stephanie McNeal, committee chair with the La Villita Heritage Society, the event’s organizer.

Free admission. After bills are paid, proceeds benefit the East Side Boys and Girls Club.

Photo: Express-News file

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