The RVA East End Festival returns Saturday, Sept. 24, from 12 to 9 p.m. at Henry Marsh Elementary School, 813 N. 28th St. The free family event will feature performances by the Richmond Symphony, youth musicians, dancers and visual artists.

This year’s festival co-chairs are James “Saxsmo” Gates and the Rev. Marilyn Heckstall. Mr. Gates has played in the U.S. and abroad with notable artists including Dizzy Gillespie, The Temptations, Roberta Flack, Marvin Gaye and others. He is the director/ coordinator of the Dr. Billy Taylor Jazz Studies Program in the Department of Music at Virginia State University.

Rev. Heckstall is the former pastor of Asbury Church Hill United Methodist Church and most recently was pastor of Saint Paul United Methodist Church in Roanoke. She has been chairwoman of the

RVA East End Festival since 2017.

Now in its fifth year, proceeds from the event benefit the Richmond Public Schools music and arts departments. Cheryl Burke, a Richmond Public Schools board member, says past proceeds from the festival have helped the Richmond Public Schools Education Foundation purchase or repair musical instruments, create a dance studio at Armstrong High School, and purchase choral risers, concert attire and visual arts supplies such as pottery kilns.

“The festival’s financial goal for 2022 is $100,000 to be used for a variety of purchases to benefit mu- sic, performing arts and visual arts programs at our wonderful East End schools,” she says.

To learn more about the RVA East End Festival, contact rvaeastendfest@gmail.com or visit www.rpsedfund.org/eastendfestival.