Community

Gospel Fest Takes Over Heritage Port

WHEELING - The presence of Canadian smoke and the threat of storms nearly canceled Gospel Fest on Sunday, but the entertainment and inspiration went on as planned.

In fact, it turned out to be a pretty nice day to sit outside and listen to music along the Ohio River at Wheeling's Heritage Port. The temperatures were more comfortable, the air had mostly cleared and the sun even made an appearance by afternoon.

"God is ... awesome," Bishop Darrell Cummings of the Bethlehem Apostolic Temple told those attending the third annual Gospel Fest.

He said he had been advised by city officials that he might want to cancel the event, but in the end he opted to not do that.

Set up wasn't without technical difficulties. Power to the stage was to be turned on at 9:30 a.m. - an hour before the event was to start. But initially there was no power. Cummings was relieved all was up and running for the show and it was turning out to be a beautiful day.

Providing a backdrop for the event was the ship "American Melody," which made a stop in Wheeling on Sunday morning. Some of the passengers boarded a bus for a tour of Wheeling, while others could be seen sitting out on the decks of the ship enjoying the music.

Tana Price lives in South Wheeling, and she made the walk from her home to Heritage Port with her two German shepherds - one very large, and one just a puppy she recently brought home. She said it was the first time they all went out together.

"I was hoping to run into someone I might know from previous churches I have attended, and I might yet," Price said. "It was just a beautiful morning to get out and walk. It wasn't too hot to get out with the dogs."

Toddy Harris of the Apostolic Faith Temple came to sing on stage and she brought along her ukulele

"I've come here for the past two years with our choir, but our choir is not here today," she said. "It's just me here today."