FERRIDAY — Miss-Lou residents have had very little time to sit back and relax over the past month due to the rising waters of the Mississippi River.

With flood worries resonating on everyone’s mind, the Town of Ferriday is offering a few hours to get away from the worries on Saturday with the second annual Will Haney’s Soul Survivors Festival.

The festivities kick off at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Rockabilly Plaza, and festival organizer Tommy Polk said the fun will not stop there.

Five other acts will perform throughout the day with the music ending at 4 p.m., Polk said.

“After the music we are going to have an awards ceremony honoring the musicians in the area that have been playing since the 50s,” he said.

Polk said festival attendance is free to the public, leaving anyone who attends with more money in their wallet and a chance to listen to some great music from the area.

“The whole festival is to honor Will Haney, who owned Haney’s Big House in Ferriday,” Polk said.

“All the big acts like B.B King and Ray Charles would play there on Sunday nights.”

Polk said many area musicians played in the house band at Haney’s, including one of this year’s Soul Survivor performers “YZ” Ealey.

“That is why we call the festival Soul Survivors,” he said.

“These musicians have made it through this many years performing, and they are right here in our community.”

Polk said there will be more than music for Miss-Lou residents to enjoy at the festival.

“We are going to have some food and beverage vendors selling items,” he said.

“We are also going to have a few activities for the kids.”

Polk said there will be an inflatable slide, jump roping and chalk art available for area children.

Polk said the festival will start with karaoke and then the performances will begin.

Sylvia Johns-Ritchie will be performing the first act of the day with her musical students, followed by Gray Montgomery, then Elmore Williams Hezekiah and Lil Poochie before finally ending with “YZ” Ealey.

“We wanted to show the complete spectrum of musical talent in the area,” Polk said.

Polk said the only thing festival attendees need to bring is a lawn chair.