JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Hundreds of people gathered on Saturday for the Farish Forward Festival and Expo.

The two-day event celebrates and promotes the culture, history and legacy of the Farish Street Historic District.

“Farish Street is a part of my life. It’s a part of my history. It’s a part of my legacy. My family’s been down on Farish Street since 1896. It is time for this area to come back, and I am adamant and advocate for bringing new development, redevelopment and the revitalization of this area,” said Aikisha Holly Colon, founder and CEO of Holly Colon Development Group. “I wanted to start with something like this. A festival putting attention on the area, putting feet back on the ground on the grounds of Farish Street.”

At the Jackson Convention Complex, attendees listened to panel discussions on topics about starting businesses, finances and trading. There were also group participation activities.

“A lot of times, people in the communities really don’t know the options that they have when it comes to starting a business or being an entrepreneur or even getting a skill or trade this here locally. So, we want to make sure that we let people know that there are opportunities for them here in the state of Mississippi,” said Richard Bradley, president of Metro Booming Training Academy.

Farish Forward will continue on Sunday, August 25 with the festival from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Farish Street, between Amite Street and Hamilton Street.