NATCHEZ — Children danced and splashed in a heavy downpour on Minor Street Saturday. But it wasn’t raining.

The Natchez Fire Department had opened up a fire hydrant as part of the Minorville Jubilee.

Residents poured into Minor Street for one of the biggest events of the summer in Natchez, attracted by food, games and gospel.

“The goal of the event is to show unity in the community and throughout the surrounding areas,” Felicia Irving, the event coordinator for the Jubilee, said.

The event ran from approximately 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., beginning with a march down the street to the Greater Macedonia Baptist Church. The march was followed by speeches by political candidates and a gospel service in the church.

“The gospel service is a mainstay in the community to always remember the blessings of the Lord,” the Rev. Clifton Marvel, pastor at the church, said.

While most of the festivities happened on Saturday, a church service was also planned for today. One day, Irving, who grew up in the area, hopes to make the Jubilee to a three-day event.

The Jubilee is meant to bring the community closer together, and this year is meant to draw special attention to the Jubilee’s 24-year history.

“Our theme this year is reaching back and moving forward,” Irving said.

The purple shirts for the year embodied the theme, carrying the names and pictures of people who were influential in getting the Jubilee started, like Katie Moore, financial chairperson for the event, former Ward 4 Alderman Theodore West and Henry Smith, who allowed the Jubilee to use the location.

Irving said she hoped the Jubilee inspired younger generations to continue to help their community.

“It gives them hope to know these things can happen,” Irving said.

Later in the afternoon, visitors were treated to a presentation form the Alcorn University Extension Program and free food.

Over by the food tent, Bea Owens sat next to some of her friends. Owens grew up in the neighborhood, and now lives on Martin Luther King Jr. Street.

However, she almost always returns for the Jubilee.

“My favorite part is getting to see people from the neighborhood that I haven’t seen for a long time,” Owens said.

Owens also brought McKenzie Owens, her 3-year-old granddaughter and the daughter of Lisa Starks and Ken Owens.

McKenzie Owens was one of the children who danced underneath the fire hydrant’s downpour, running alongside Jakiya Terrell, the 10-year-old daughter of Placinta McNeil and D’Issac Terrell.

“I was looking forward to that today,” Terrell said.