Before tents are pitched and grills are fired up the 1000 block of Washington Street will be the center of festivities Friday night with a musical event and block party to coincide with Alcorn State University’s homecoming game the next day.

The Paint The ‘Burg Purple and Gold Music Festival is scheduled for 3 p.m. to midnight and is the first of its kind, said Angela Jenkins, the organizer for the event.

Music will play for nine hours, she said, and entertainment includes Dexter Allen, Chris Gill and the Soul Shakers, Compozitionz, Andy Hardwick and DJ Eddie Williams.

The block party will also include food and craft vendors and adult activities.

“We will have vendors selling pizza, turkey legs, chicken on a stick, catfish and a Mexican food truck will be there,” Jenkins said.

A game trailer, which allows 16 people to play video games, will be on hand, and a greyhound bus, which Jenkins called a “tattoo truck,” will offer henna and airbrushed tattoos.

Admission is $15 and attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chair, Jenkins said.

“VIP tickets are available for $40, and includes private wait staff, food, drinks and a guaranteed seat at a table,” she said.

Tickets are available at the Portofino Hotel, 1310 Mulberry St. and at the door.

A portion of the Paint The ‘Burg Purple and Gold Music Festival’s proceeds will go towards the Pinky A. Brown Scholarship fund, Jenkins said.

Brown was a guidance counselor for the Vicksburg Warren School District and an Alcorn alumna.

For more information, call 601-214-6922.