NATCHEZ — Thunderstorms have been in the forecast for the past two weeks, but that didn’t stop the inaugural Heritage and Soul festival from bringing a little gospel and wheels to the bluff Saturday.

The rain, however, did stop the evening’s music portion of the events that were part of a week-long Juneteenth celebration that wraps up Tuesday.

On Saturday, several new and vintage sparkling automobiles parked along Broadway Street approximately 1 p.m., just in time for a massive shower to make the autos’ owners break out their rags and wipe down the sparkly finishes.

Joe Perry, the owner of a red-orange 2015 Chevy Corvette, said he’d repeatedly wiped down his favorite toy.

“It rained about four times, so it’s hard to keep clean,” Perry said. “I bought (the car) when I retired. It’s my toy that I’ve dreamed about my whole life.”

The concert, which would feature local blues, rap and gospel artists was scheduled to start at 6 p.m. However, the weather seemed to have other plans. Still, some motorists cranked up the bass on their stereos to entertain guests as they waited out the rain.

Don Barnes, a co-organizer of the car show with Damien Davis and member of the Swift car club, said the automobiles were the highlight of the day’s festivities.

“I’ve always participated in shows worldwide,” Barnes said. “The organizers of the soul festival reached out to me and asked me to do a car show. … I told them the car show would be better than the soul festival.”

Barnes said he invited another car club out of Baton Rouge, Exclusive Riders, to come to Natchez and strut their wheels.

Devante Reams, the president of the Exclusive Riders car club, said about 14 members of the group decided to celebrate freedom and culture in the Juneteenth festival, and he brought his own masterpiece to show off in the show.

“We just finished all of the modifications in February of this year,” he said. “We’ve got over $250,000 in the vehicle.”

Ream’s car is a 2012 dark red RS Camaro equipped with 46 speakers on the interior and exterior of the vehicle, six amps and five television screens. The car also has glowing lights on the ceiling and the rims and can be raised and lowered with buttons inside the vehicle or controlled with a mobile phone.

Rev. Kevin Deason, the pastor of New Direction Church at 306 Oak St., said the entire Heritage and Soul festival — which lasts until June 19 — was planned in only five months.

“It rained, and it rained hard,” Deason said, but I don’t get upset by a little rain. … All you can do is hope for the best. This is the first … Juneteenth Heritage and Soul festival. I expect bigger things next year, but we got to start somewhere. … I’m happy with where we are.”

Deason said he is confident the festival will continue and grow from where it started and said he is ready to start planning for the next year as soon as it’s over.

Remaining Juneteenth events include:

Juneteenth Memorial

Juneteenth memorial church services start at 3 p.m. today in New Direction Worship Center and will be led by the Rev. Kevin Deason.

Love and Laughter

The love and laughter comedy show begins at 7 p.m. today in the Natchez City Auditorium, where comedian Jashad “Shaddy Feel Good” Mc-Coy, Quenton “Comedian Q” Coleman and Red Grant will entertain guests with a stand-up show. The host and Natchez native Delvie Gales and local blues musician Emerson Hill will also entertain guests in the Juneteenth and Father’s Day celebration. Tickets start at $30 each and can be purchased at etix.com.

Growing Your Dollars

A community workshop for business entrepreneurs begins at 6 p.m. Monday at Forks of the Road.

Juneteenth Celebration

A spiritual libations ceremony will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday on the official Juneteenth day at Forks of the Road.

For more information regarding Juneteenth events, contact Frazier at 601-807-1008.