NATCHEZ &8212; The mass of people attending the Minorville Jubilee Saturday had a new street on which to party.

Recently renovated, Minor Street played host to a block party celebrating neighbors and the local culture for the 14th year.

A rap group drew a large audience at the end of the street, while farther up, families picnicked and children played basketball.

The day began with the traditional parade from Martin Luther King Street. This year, organizers held a dedication ceremony for the newly finished road and sidewalks. Gospel music and others performed, too.

Burnett Bridgewater, unofficial Mayor of Minorville and organizer of the jubilee, said the party was again a hit.

&8220;Everything&8217;s going spectacular,&8221; Bridgewater said early Saturday evening.

The party started years ago as a way to join neighbors and drive out crime. Today, it brings neighbors together and celebrates the area&8217;s culture, he said.

&8220;Together we have made a difference,&8221; he said. &8220;We have sidewalks. We never had sidewalks before. It&8217;s a major improvement.&8221;

Freeman Reason owns the lot where the groups performed. He has let jubilee revelers use his lot since it started 14 years ago, he said.

&8220;It&8217;s so everybody can get together and have a good time,&8221; Reason said. &8220;We get a big crowd every year.&8221;

Leaa Smith was part the audience watching the rap group. She just moved to the area from Vidalia, she said.

&8220;So far, I think the best part is this,&8221; she said, pointing to the stage. &8220;It gives people something to look at.&8221;

Across the street, Regin Prater sold chips, fries and fish to the partygoers.

Prater, who lives on Pintard Street, comes to the jubilee every year, she said.

&8220;It&8217;s great just being a part of it, watching the kids and adults enjoying themselves, and being able to get along with everybody,&8221; Prater said.

The new road is a big improvement, she said.

&8220;It looks good, doesn&8217;t it?,&8221; she said. &8220;They added parking spaces. You used to not be able to park and now you can.&8221;

Joyce Griffin, who lives in Morgantown, said there were many like her who came back home for the celebration.

&8220;I was born and raised here. My church is here; my mother is here. This is my community,&8221; Griffin said.

The finished street was a welcome sight, one the community has been looking forward to for years, she said.

Griffin, who comes to the jubilee every year, said the best part about the celebration was the fellowship.

&8220;Family, friends and neighbors coming together&8212; that&8217;s my favorite part,&8221; Griffin said.