The annual parade served as a centerpiece of the 21st annual African American Culture and Heritage Festival held in Charles Town last weekend. Local school bands including Jefferson and Washington high schools participated as did a combined group of the county’s middle school band students. Others traveled from as far away as Baltimore, Md. to take part, including “The Band,” shown here.

In addition to the parade, the weekend saw a variety of activities including a Jefferson County Black History Exhibition, the Karl Miller Gospel Revue from Bramwell, W. Va., a humvee presentation by the U.S. Marine Corps and youth block party, three on three basketball tournament and a job fair. The event closed out on Sunday with a memorial walk to the John Brown fort site at the Murphy Farm in Harpers Ferry and a church service at Curtis Freewill Baptist Church.