Warren Sherman Festival on tap this weekend

K'Jon headlines the Hip-Hop 5 Peace Concert Series. GETTY IMAGES Enlarge

After a nine-year hiatus, the Warren Sherman Festival is making a comeback Saturday.

The Warren‐Sherman area will come alive this weekend with events and activities for the community, families, and people of all ages. The event will feature food vendors, a custom car and bike show, a balloon release, and numerous children's activities, including face painting, contests, clowns, and the YMCA Fun Bus.

"It's mostly to get the community involved," said Virgilio Baker, spokesman for the festival committee. "It's an opportunity for the community to come together and just have a good time."

This year's highlight is the Toledo Hip-Hop 4 Peace concert series. Hip-hop artists from the Toledo and Detroit areas and national recording act K'Jon, will perform as part of an anti-violence summit. The concert will double as a charity benefit and tribute for Ke'Ondra and Le'Ondra Hooks, who were injured in a shooting earlier this month at a Moody Manor apartment. Le'Ondra, 2, who suffered a gun shot wound to the torso, was recently released from the hospital. Ke'Ondra, 1, died from her injuries. No murder charges have been filed.

Marquis Turner, a Toledo native and rapper, better known by his stage name, Sik da Don Sikosa, along with fellow rapper Jason Jensen (J-360) and Albert "Mac" McCluster, came up with the idea for the concert after they heard about the shooting.

"This is the worst thing I've ever heard of in Toledo," Sikosa said. "We can't kill each other before we even have a chance to live. It's time for a change."

Sikosa and J-360 recorded a tribute song for the girls, which they will perform at the festival. "I Thought They Cared" will be available for sale at the festival. Proceeds from the record sale will benefit the victims' family.

The festival will take place Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Inez Nash Park, 206 E. Bancroft Street. The event is free and open to the public.

Contact RoNeisha Mullen at rmullen@theblade.com or 419-724-6133.