Michael Jackson Earth and Arts Festival set for Saturday

By Samantha Test

Special to The Post and Courier

This Saturday, Michael’s Angels for Michael’s Children just wants to heal the world.

They’re bringing the first annual Michael Jackson Earth and Arts Festival to Riverfront Park in North Charleston from noon until 8:30 p.m.

In addition to the food, crafts, music, videos and tributes to the King of Pop, information will be available from North Charleston Departments of Recreation and Cultural Arts, the Sustainability Institute, Lowcountry Food Bank, DHEC, Charleston Recycling and Charleston Beautification.

Environmental sessions and cultural arts will include demonstrations with cooking, planting, recycling, healthy living, massage, zumba and martial arts. Also providing entertainment will be a jump castle and music from DJ Nynjah.

Attendees may also participate in a dance contest, look-a-like contest and three contest categories of spoken word.

Admission is free with a new, donated item for the toy drive benefitting MUSC Children’s Hospital.

The plan, according to event organizer Lorna Beck, is to celebrate the anniversary of Jackson’s birthday by giving the presents to the children. This Sunday will be the first since the performer’s death. Donated items will be presented to the children’s hospital Monday morning.

“Michael’s Angels formed after his death to carry on his legacy of giving during his lifetime,” Beck said. “We just want to stress how much of a humanitarian he was. He holds the record for the most giving of any public figure.”

“He made an outward commitment to his belief and to his practice that we should take care of the children,” she continued. “That’s why he wore the armband. He thought people should do whatever in their power to help children.”

Despite the controversy during his life and his many detractors, supporting future generations is something we can all get behind.

“We’re hoping that they get the message loud and clear that we have a responsibility to the earth, to take care of the land and to take care of the children,” said Beck.

“And that we, anyone, can be an angel by doing good. Just one person, without being a millionaire, can do good. We’re hoping to teach many things, but if someone just gets one lesson, the day will be successful.”

New, donated items can be anything along the lines of toys, games, sports items, books, video games, teen magazine subscriptions, infant mobiles and action figures among many other possibilities.