Catfish in the Alley returns April 11, inviting community members to spend the weekend celebrating the history of the street with art, live blues music and – of course – catfish.
Started in 1987, the Catfish in the Alley festival honors Black citizens of Columbus who contributed to the city’s cultural, musical and historical heritage.
“It’s a tribute to African American citizens because of the rich history they have on Catfish Alley,” Mayor Keith Gaskin told The Dispatch. “It’s a great way, I think, for the city to be able to showcase a part of our past that has not always been celebrated.”
Catfish Alley was once a center of African American business and social life. The street was home to several Black-owned businesses during the late 19th and 20th centuries, including the city’s first Black doctor and first Black dentist. Today, it is remembered as being a melting pot during segregation.
Honoring that history, Gaskin said, is what makes Catfish in the Alley special.
“It shows a unique part of our history that is not as familiar as some of the other things in town,” Gaskin said. “I just really enjoy gathering with folks there on the alley. … People are just sitting together, laughing and having a good time. It’s one of the events that kind of brings people from all different walks of life together.”
Parts of that history will return April 11, Columbus Visitors Bureau Tourism Director Frances Glenn said, starting with bringing catfish back to the alley at noon on Friday during the Blues with a Side of Soul event.
Keith Johnson and the Big Muddy Band will perform on the Tennessee Williams House Museum lawn until 2 p.m., where there will also be soul food plate lunches available for purchase. Plate lunches are available for preorder at visitcolumbusms.org/event/catfish-in-the-alley-6/.
On Saturday, the party will move into the alley with 15 artisans and more food vendors slated to fill the street. For kids, Glenn said PACCAR will be hosting a STEM-themed activity and the Columbus Arts Council will have a booth with cornhole, a clay station, watercolor painting and a chalk walk.
“We have everything from aprons, wood carving, goat soap, vintage jewelry and stained glass,” Glenn said.
Along with food and vendors, Saturday’s festivities will also include live music, beginning at 10 a.m. with Keith and Margie Brown followed by the Columbus Community Gospel Choir at 11 a.m. Then Anissa “Bigg Sexyy” Hampton and the H-Funk Band will take the stage at noon, with DK Harrell closing out the festival with a set starting at 1:30 p.m.
Glenn said the festival has stayed true to its roots over the years, focusing on honoring Black history in the city with the blues music and southern cuisine the alley is known for. She encouraged community members to attend.
“I think it’s a unique event because the festival is relatively small, and it’s easy to get to and get around,” she said. “… It’s just a great way to spend your lunch hour on Friday or your day on Saturday.”
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
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