The Canton Music Fest returns to the Historic Canton Square on July 4, 2026, with a major hometown highlight: the Canton Spirituals are scheduled to perform in Canton for the first time in nearly two decades.
The event begins at 5 p.m. with a pre-show, followed by the main concert at 6 p.m. Families can also expect a kids’ zone, food vendors and other activities throughout the evening.
Ashford Sanders, a Canton native, national recording artist and organizer of the festival, said bringing the legendary gospel group home was his top priority.
“I wanted to do it only if I could get the Canton Spirituals back to the city of Canton,” Sanders said. “We were able to make that happen.”
The main lineup includes Harvey Watkins Jr. and The Canton Spirituals, Tim Rogers and The Fellas, The Brown Four, Cynthia Goodloe Palmer and Rev. Clyde Tate.
For Sanders, who appeared on Season 5 of BET’s Sunday Best, the festival is also about unity and community.
“What better way to bring us together than music?” Sanders said. “It’s something about music that shifts the atmosphere, especially gospel music.”
Sponsors for the event include the City of Canton, Family Memorial Funeral Services, Peoples Undertaking Company, Mama Hamil’s, City of Zion International Church, JTP Ministries, BankPlus, Brown Legal Group, Priestley Chapel M.B. Church and Golden Paradise Event and Eatery, among others.
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