I’m So Greenwood is back.
The tailgate-style picnic event held in Whittington Park with a record-high attendance of about 5,000 will return May 28.
Because of the pandemic, the last I’m So Greenwood event held was in 2019.
“It’s very exciting,” said the event’s founder and organizer, Alfonso Gray, a former Greenwood resident who now lives in Chicago.
The event will be held from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
“There’s always excitement in the air. It’s a joyful occasion,” said Gray. “Kids are excited, running and playing with no worries, no care. There’s a lot of love. You can feel the love and excitement.”
People attending are encouraged to bring tents, chairs, food and grills or even games to play.
The live entertainment will kick off at noon. A DJ and 10 different blues and R&B artists from Greenwood will perform throughout the day.
The event will also include vendors selling items, such as books, women’s clothing and jewelry.
A raffle will be held, and tickets are $5 each. Prizes will include a TV, AirPods, sound bars, gas cards, Visa gift cards and other items. Winners will be announced throughout the day.
Gray is expecting a record-setting crowd at I’m So Greenwood this year.
“I think we’ll be looking anywhere between 5,000 to 6,000 people,” he said. “Just based off the overall response that I get, as far as emails, questions and replies and the Facebook page and all of the questions we get from there, tells me that we are going to have a large turnout. ... The past two years, it didn’t happen, so people are just excited.”
You have to be from Greenwood to really understand what makes I’m So Greenwood so special and “to really understand the family structure,” said Gray. “Everybody knows everybody, and we’re all connected in some kind of way, whether it’s through marriage, you stay next door to a person or went to high school with a person. So to see everybody in one spot for 12 straight hours is absolutely amazing.”
I’m So Greenwood also serves as a venue for reunions.
Gray said three class reunions and five family reunions have already reserved spots at the park.
“A lot of class reunions are centered around I’m So Greenwood,” he added.
Gray organized the first I’m So Greenwood event in 2015.
“When I came up with the idea, I didn’t imagine it getting to this point,” he said. “I figured maybe 200 or 300 people may show up. Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be thousands.”
He’s happy that seven years later people are still excited about attending the event.
“The fellowship aspect is what people love,” said Gray. “Sitting around reminiscing and catching up on old times.”
People come out to the park on the day of the event as early as 4 a.m., including Gray.
“People are so excited,” he said. “They are out there the night before.”
Other than the reserved section, the spots in the park are first come, first served.
“So you get out there, you find your spot and you set up your tent,” said Gray. “People are out there claiming the best spots the day before. I come to town on Thursday, I go out there and I always see stakes in the ground where people are marking their spots.”
While the event is free to the public, sponsorships and selling I’m So Greenwood T-shirts help pay the costs to hold the event.
I’m So Greenwood is also now a non-profit organization.
In November 2020, the I’m So Greenwood Foundation gave away about 300 coats to children in grades K-8 in conjunction with the Junior Auxiliary of Greenwood.
“As this event continues to grow and the message gets out what I’m trying to do here, we’ll be doing more things like that,” he said.
Gray plans to donate any proceeds from the raffle to charities in Greenwood.
“I’m just trying to help the community that I grew up in,” he said.
Gray said he hopes this year’s I’m So Greenwood turns out great.
“I hope people leave wishing there was more time, wishing there was another day, wishing it was a whole weekend — they always say that,” he said. “I just hope everyone has a good time and nothing but positive vibes behind it.”
For more information about I’m So Greenwood, send Gray an email at imsogreenwood@gmail.com.
- Contact Ruthie Robison at 581-7235 or rrobison@gwcommonwealth.com.
