NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – Cousinz Festival marks the first music event to take place both inside and outside of Scope Arena.
oAntonio Dowe, the event co-founder, said he expects 12,000 attendees for Saturday’s festival.
“Anybody and everybody with a name that has anything to do with the 757 is going to be at this show,” Dowe said. “I can’t name drop. I can’t tell you who. But if they have a name and they’re from the 757, they’ve RSVP’d for some type of way to get into this festival.”
The event is powered by the RnB Block Party, whom Dowe is a co-founder of. Co-founders for the festival itself include Dowe and Hampton Roads’ rappers Pusha-T and Fam-Lay.
“The experience of the Cousinz Festival is what we’ve been calling an elevated RnB Block Party,” Dowe said. “If you’ve been to a block party it’s usually all DJ talent either inside Scope Arena or outside Scope Plaza. We’ve inserted both into this project.”
The line up includes Erykah Badu, Jermaine Dupri, Jae Murphy and Lion Babe.
Dowe said planning the event took about a year, but around March was when the bulk of the plans were made.
“It’s just been one of those things, where if you want it bad enough, you’ll figure it out. And we figured it out,” Dowe said.
The festival includes an outside stage, food and vendors. Inside the Scope Arena is the main stage and inside Chrysler Hall is merch.
“This is really for the 757,” Dowe said. “When we thought about what we could do to invigorate new energy, alongside with what we’ve been doing with the RnB Block Party, this is what you get.”
Dowe said he may get emotional during the event when he sees all the hard work pay off.
“I’m probably going to cry. I’m going to cry. And I don’t even cry,” Dowe said.
Although the founders of the festival have been busy planning the event, they’ve also taken the time to give back to the community. The group gave free tickets to 170+ to Portsmouth Public Schools teachers and staff. They also partnered with Dominion Energy to help upgrade a Norfolk woman’s home to be energy efficient.
Collage students will also benefit from the groups’ charitable work.
“We’ve come to the opportunity to give away five book scholarships to Norfolk State University students. They’re $500 a piece,” Dowe said.
He said Hampton Roads can expect to see Cousinz festival again in 2025.
“We call and have been calling the [festival] family reunion and an opportunity to give love back to a community that’s done nothing but love on this,” Dowe said.
Gates open for VIP at 1 p.m. Admission for General Admission is 2 p.m. Click here to purchase tickets.