Deveon Ball, left, lead singer with the Noxubee-based band Artistik, harmonizes with other band members Saturday while Stephano Curtis plays the keyboard at the Riverwalk in Columbus. Ball said that the band was excited to get a chance to perform at the Unity Day Celebration after their performance at the Traditions, Taste and Tunes event in May was cancelled due to rain. “We were extremely excited and ecstatic about it,” Ball said. “Wherever we’re performing at, we’re always excited, no matter where it is, but it always feels good, especially here cause Columbus, Mississippi, is my hometown.” Braden Simmons/Dispatch Staff

Ulysses Kelly, owner of Next Level BBQ, inspects fryers filled with huspuppies and french fries Saturday at the Riverwalk in Columbus. Mayor Stephen Jones said organizers for the Unity Day Celebration purchased enough food to feed 1,000 people. Kelly said Saturday he fried 25 cases of catfish, 15 cases of fries and 10 cases of hushpuppies. Braden Simmons/Dispatch Staff

Carolyn Aviles, left, receives cookies on her plate from volunteer Tre Davis at the Unity Day Celebration at the Riverwalk in Columbus. Mayor Stephen Jones said he wanted the Unity Day Event to be a day where local citizens could celebrate and reflect on the growth of the city over the last year through projects like the Fifth Street Improvement project, the Parkview Development and the upcoming construction of the Sen. Terry Brown Amphitheater. Braden Simmons/Dispatch Staff

Logan Nickels, 7, left, gets a flaming baseball painted on his arm by Amanda Slaughter, owner of Mad Masks Facepainting, Saturday at the Riverwalk in Columbus. Slaughter by Saturday afternoon had already painted five attendees’ faces and arms, and expected about 40 more people to stop by before the end of the day. Nickels father is Lee Nickels. Braden Simmons/Dispatch Staff

Detective Kim Hayes, left, helps Gwendolyn Colom, 9, put on a Special Weapons and Tactics vest and helmet at Columbus Police Department’s booth Saturday at the Unity Day Celebration in Columbus. Mayor Stephen Jones said he wanted both CPD and Columbus Fire and Rescue leadership present at the event so citizens could speak with them about their concerns and become more familiar with members of both organizations. “Sometimes (citizens) may feel that they can’t get in touch with them,” Jones said. “So today is a day that they can come out and talk with them. And any concerns they have, (they’re) here to address them.” Braden Simmons/Dispatch Staff

Karley Wallace, 4, slides down the exit to a bouncy castle Saturday at the Unity Day Celebration in Columbus. LaQuava Wallace, Karley’s mother, said that Karley is typically a very active child, and they regularly go to the playgrounds at Columbus throughout the week. LaQuava said she was glad the Unity Day Celebration had something for her and her children and they all had a great time. Braden Simmons/Dispatch Staff