Henderson's Water Street Plaza Amphitheater served as the setting for the 23rd annual Gospel Fest yesterday, celebrating Black History Month with a lineup of gospel greats, local pastors, community leaders, and gospel groups. According to News 3 LV, the free event featured performances by Ashling Cole, Brent Jones, Lena Byrd Miles, and others.
The city of Henderson, known for its engagement with community events, welcomed thousands of attendees to this longstanding tradition of musical excellence. "It's the 23rd Annual Henderson Gospel Fest. We come together and bring this every year," Craig Wright, General Manager of KCEP Radio (Power 88), told News 3 LV. Renowned artists encouraged and inspired the crowd, among them, Ashling Cole—a worship leader whose journey of healing and faith has fostered a deep connection within her music and audience.
Also gracing the stage was Brent Jones, an artist recognized for his influence on urban contemporary gospel music and for sending waves of positivity through his dynamic chart-topping hits. "We're the buyer, we're the steamer, we're the seller," entrepreneur Sheneka Gunn, owner of 1Qtee Boutique, shared with 8 News Now, expressing the multifaceted role of business owners who participated in the festival alongside the performers.
Gospel Fest not only served as a platform for artists but also for local enterprises. Small business owners, like Gunn, saw this as an opportunity to showcase their products and share in the community spirit—a sentiment echoed by festival attendee Ken Young who spoke to 8 News Now. "Authentic vendors, authentic soul food? You can't lose with that," he noted, emphasizing the joy and authenticity that were the underlying themes of the day's festivities.
The efforts put in by Ken Knight, one of Gospel Fest's facilitators, were evident as he revealed to News 3 LV the planning that goes into such an event, starting a year in advance. From its inception at the Black Mountain Rec Center to its current status, Gospel Fest remains a beacon of celebration, unity, and inspiration, echoing through the voices lifted in song and the harmonious buzz of a community united by music and history.
