Blues and soul legend Bobby Rush will headline the 22nd Heritage Festival Saturday in downtown Port Gibson.

Rush is set to take the stage at 6 p.m. on Market Street, said Kenneth D. Ross, chairman of the Heritage Festival. About 10,000 people are expected to pack into downtown for the concert.

Admission is free.

“We expect the attendance will be good, especially since the weather is expected to be so great,” Ross said.

The National Weather Service is calling for a high of 72 Saturday with mostly sunny skies.

Rush, 80, is coming off one of the most active and recognized years of his 50-year career. In 2014, he received his second consecutive Grammy nomination, performed on “The Tonight Show,” and received four Blues Music Award nominations.

Other artists slated for the event include 2014 International Blues Challenge winner Castro Coleman, who performs as Mr. Sipp, Lamorris Williams and 2xtreme.

“This should be a great afternoon of music,” said Edward Carter Sr., chairman of the festival music committee.

Music is set to begin at 10 a.m., and arts and crafts activates begin along Market Street at 8 a.m., Ross said.

This weekend also marks the festivals return to late March. The festival was sidelined for two years and then moved to September after thieves stole electrical equipment needed for the production, Ross said.

“This is the first year we’ll be back on the regular schedule date,” he said.

In addition to the festival, Port Gibson is sponsoring the Whispers in the Cedars tour of Wintergreen Cemetery, Ross said. Tours will be Friday and Saturday, and tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students.

“All the historic churches and historic sites will be open this weekend,” he said.

The Heritage festival is a fundraiser for Port Gibson’s Main Street program. With free admission, organizers depend primarily on vendor fees and sponsorships to provide entertainment. Major sponsors for this year’s event include the Claiborne County Board of Supervisors, the City of Port Gibson, Entergy, the Sallie M. Ross memorial fund, RiverHills Bank and attorney Dennis C. Sweet.