City of Gary to host two-day Jackson 5 celebration in August
On Aug. 29 and 30, the city will host the 2300 Jackson Street Block Party at Roosevelt High School's campus.
'As Mayor of Gary, I'm proud to celebrate the enduring legacy of Michael Jackson and the entire Jackson family with this incredible homecoming event,' Mayor Eddie Melton said in a news release. 'The 2300 Jackson Street Block Party is more than a celebration — it's a tribute to the roots of greatness that started right here in our city. We honor the Jacksons not just for their global impact, but for the pride and inspiration they continue to give the people of Gary.'
The celebration will start on Michael Jackson's birthday, Aug. 29, and will be hosted by actor and comedian Chris Tucker. Attendees will hear and see Michael Jackson's 'legendary music and films that continue to inspire generations worldwide.'
On Aug. 30, Gary will honor the Jackson family and welcome Jackie and Marlon Jackson, who are both original members of the Jackson 5. The city will also recognize Tito Jackson, who died in September 2024.
Tito Jackson was the third of nine Jackson children and was a background singer who played guitar in the band, according to Post-Tribune archives. Tito Jackson repeatedly returned to Gary and supported Melton's mayoral campaign, saying he would return the city to the vibrant community he grew up in.
Grammy-award winning vocalist Deniece Williams will host the event on Aug. 30. Other performers will include rapper Freddie Gibbs, DJ Kid Capri and Edward Hollis, a nationally recognized Michael Jackson impersonator, according to the city.
Jackie and Marlon Jackson both acknowledged in the release how important Gary is to their family, saying that the Jackson 5 got its start in the city. Marlon Jackson called it a blessing to return and celebrate with people who knew the family before its fame.
'Coming back to 2300 Jackson Street is always deeply emotional for me,' Jackie Jackson said. 'This is where it all started for the Jackson 5, and I have so many memories here. To see Gary celebrating our family's legacy and our roots in this very neighborhood means the world to us.'
The celebration comes just about two months after a new mural of the Jackson 5 was installed in Gary. East Chicago artist Felix Maldonado painted the mural, which was sponsored by Karren and Pat Lee and Tom and Sylvia Collins.
The mural is located on the north side of the Vogue Cleaners building at 610 S. Lake St. in the city's Miller neighborhood, according to Post-Tribune archives. The art replaces a previous one that was located on Lake Street and removed in 2018 because of deterioration.
'The Jackson family's music helped define a generation — and it all started right here in Gary,' Maldonado said in a news release. 'I wanted this new mural to feel alive, so that people can connect with the joy and pride this city feels for them. It's not just art — it's a celebration of legacy.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
My awakening: How Gen Z's relationship with religion is changing
When someone told me it was going to be like the Catholic version of Woodstock, I laughed. But as soon as I got there, I thought: OK, now I get it! As I walked through the 237-acre Tor Vergata grounds just 10 miles east of Rome, around me were hundreds of thousands of young people from all over the world, setting up their tents, blowing up air beds, singing and dancing as Christian music pumped from the speakers. It was a hot Roman day, around 90 degrees, and some of these pilgrims had walked for up to eight hours to get here. But still, the heat was no deterrent to the joy in the air. Advertisement What was extraordinary about this event, the Jubilee of Youth, was that while there were well-known Christian artists performing, the young people hadn't come to see them. They were waiting to pray. Yes — pray! And when, at 7:30 p.m., the roar of a helicopter was heard overhead, the crowd erupted. The white papal chopper had made the short journey from the Vatican and circled the crowd twice. 'Viva Papa,' they cheered. Throwing up clouds of dust, the chopper was glowing in the evening sun as it landed. Then on the large screens, people watched as Pope Leo XIV — the first American pope — emerged and boarded the Mercedes Popemobile. Every morning, the NY POSTcast offers a deep dive into the headlines with the Post's signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime and everything in between. Subscribe here! 'Incredibly moving' Advertisement After weaving through the crowd, going back and forth blessing the sea of people on either side, the pope took to the stage and led a two-hour, deeply spiritual prayer vigil. The moment Pope Leo brought out the Eucharist, what Catholics believe is the real body of Jesus in the bread, 1 million young people suddenly fell silent, many on their knees with their eyes closed. Fr. Vincent Bernhard, the university chaplain at NYU, who was there leading a pilgrimage of young men from across the US, was moved by that moment: 'It was so silent you could hear a pin drop. When I looked around, you could see everyone kneeling and looking in one direction. It was incredibly moving. Only the pope could do that. Make everyone stop and look towards Jesus.' Something is changing in society when it comes to Gen Z and their relationship with religion. Their parents may have drifted from the Church — because of scandals, laziness, shifting priorities, etc. Advertisement But from the young people I spoke to at Tor Vergata, I got a sense they are searching for deeper answers to life's oldest questions. This is something Pope Leo spoke to directly from the stage: 'There is a burning question in our hearts, a need for truth that we cannot ignore, which leads us to ask ourselves: What is true happiness? What is the true meaning of life? . . . Jesus is our hope.' True meaning Indeed, from traveling the world covering the Catholic Church and people's relationship with faith for EWTN, I think young people — especially — have been fed the lie that they'll find fulfillment in fame, fortune and followers. Advertisement They've been encouraged to hang their identity on their career, on their social-media persona, and on their popularity. And while these things might offer instant, short-term gratification, more and more young people seem to be realizing that they don't lead to lasting, meaningful fulfillment. When the three F's disappear — fame, fortune, followers — what gives your life fulfillment and meaning? Young people today are looking for meaning, and many are finding it in the tradition, culture and beauty of the Catholic Church. For years it hasn't been 'cool' to be Catholic, or even easy to say you believe in God. But as with anything pushed aside or suppressed, sometimes the opposite happens — it re-emerges as something unexpected, something different. Something countercultural that intrigues young people and starts to draw them in again. Cue the Jubilee of Youth, and a million young people on their knees in a field outside of Rome. Something profound is drawing them, and with the Catholic Church having a new, relatively young and timely pope who talks about social media, algorithms, and artificial intelligence, young people are engaged. Found a home As darkness fell over Tor Vergata, the choir sang, 'Jesus Christ, you are my life,' as the papal helicopter once again roared into the air and turned back toward Vatican City. One of the most powerful messages the pope left the young people with was, 'Aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are. Do not settle for less.' One of the young men with Fr. Vincent on pilgrimage was 19-year-old Marco Terrizzi from Illinois. He recently came into the faith and told me, 'This was sensational. I truly feel changed forever. I feel like I've found my forever home in the Catholic Church.' Colm Flynn is a correspondent for EWTN, global Catholic television.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Katy Perry Stops Detroit Show To Assist Fan Who Collapsed Onstage
Michigan concertgoers got a bit of a fright Sunday when a fan collapsed onstage at the Detroit stop of Katy Perry's Lifetimes Tour. The incident took place during the 'Choose Your Own Adventure' segment of the show, when Perry traditionally invites audience members to accompany her in a performance of a fan-selected song from her catalog. Footage of Sunday's show, captured for posterity by Michigan-based outlet MLive, shows Perry welcoming four young fans, including one who identifies herself as McKenna, to the stage at Little Caesars Arena. After a brief introduction, the 13-time Grammy nominee tells the fans they'll be joining her in a live rendition of 'The One That Got Away,' at which point McKenna collapses to the ground, prompting many in the crowd to gasp audibly. Watch footage of the incident below. Perry can be seen kneeling beside McKenna as members of her touring company come to the girl's aid. Eventually, medical staff removed McKenna from the stage on a stretcher, according to reports. Moments later, Perry asked her fans to join her in a brief prayer for McKenna so 'that she will come back fully and brighter and better than ever.' 'It's so much. Sometimes you're so brave and you can get on stage, and it's overwhelming,' she remarked, per Billboard. 'I understand that feeling.' Toward the end of the show, Perry assured the audience that McKenna had recovered and was 'doing great,' but offered no further details. Perry kicked off her Lifetimes Tour in April following the 2024 release of her latest album, '143.' The tour is set to conclude Dec. 7 in Abu Dhabi, following performances across the U.S., Latin America, Europe and Asia. The Sunday show was Perry's first performance in Michigan in seven years. The Detroit News commended the pop star for keeping her performance on track in spite of the unexpected drama while praising the concert as one of her 'most satisfying shows, a focused piece that, while reveling in spectacle, avoided some of the momentum-reducing excesses of her previous productions.' Related... Orlando Bloom Reacts To Katy Perry-Justin Trudeau Rumors With 3 Simple Emojis Justin Trudeau Spotted On Intimate Dinner Date With Newly Single Pop Star Jack Antonoff Trolls Fans Mad At Him For Wearing Earplugs During Katy Perry's VMA Performance
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘90s Country Icon Just Shared Most Relatable Summer Parenting TikTok Ever and Fans Are Loving It
'90s Country Icon Just Shared Most Relatable Summer Parenting TikTok Ever and Fans Are Loving It originally appeared on Parade. Jo Dee Messina just proved that even country music superstars struggle with the universal challenge of keeping teenagers entertained during summer break. Mom life couldn't care less if you're a celebrity. The "Bye Bye" hitmaker sent TikTok into a frenzy with her hilariously relatable take on a viral parenting trend that has moms everywhere saying "finally, someone gets it." Using the popular TikTok format set to Taylor Swift's music, Messina recreated the viral trend where frazzled moms grab their kids from both sides, pulling them into frame to showcase the chaotic reality of summer parenting. But Messina's version hit differently – she managed to wrangle her two teenage sons into participating, creating a moment that perfectly captures the struggle of convincing reluctant teens to do anything fun. The 54-year-old country star's caption perfectly summed up every parent's summer reality: "This is what it's like to travel with kids." Her follow-up question about how much convincing it took resonated with parents who know the negotiation skills required to get teenagers on board with family activities. Fans couldn't contain their excitement over seeing the Grammy-nominated artist embrace social media trends beyond typical music promotion. Comments flooded in with parents sharing their own summer parenting struggles, with one mom of teenage boys admitting she could never convince her sons to participate. What makes Messina's video so perfectly viral is its authenticity. This isn't a polished celebrity moment – it's real mom life, complete with the slightly exasperated energy every parent recognizes. The fact that she managed to get her teenage sons to play along only added to the relatable response proves that great parenting content transcends celebrity status. Whether you're a '90s country icon or a regular mom scrolling TikTok, the summer struggle of keeping kids engaged is universal. Messina's willingness to show that even successful musicians deal with everyday parenting challenges created an instant connection with her audience. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 In a social media landscape often filled with highlight reels, Messina's authentic mom moment reminded everyone that parenting is beautifully chaotic for all of us – even country music stars. '90s Country Icon Just Shared Most Relatable Summer Parenting TikTok Ever and Fans Are Loving It first appeared on Parade on Jul 25, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
