By Staci Jones | The Selma Times-Journal

It’s going to be a hot summer, but the Selma City Council has plenty of events planned that will keep your mind off of the heat.

“‘The One Hot Summer’ series has been on my mind for a while now. This year was the year I was able to get it off of the ground,” said Councilwoman Angela Benjamin. “It’s already been epic. If you’ve missed Jazz on the Grazz, you’ve missed a treat. There is a lot more left to come.”

One Hot Summer is a series of events hosted every weekend during the months of June through September.

The weekend events range from karaoke to full out jazz concerts.

Benjamin said the series is a way to ensure that Selma does not become a thing of the past.

“It’s to keep Selma on the minds and hearts of its citizens and visitors,” Benjamin said. “Tourism is a big part of Selma. With One Hot Summer, visitors will always remember our hospitality.”

This weekend’s events will include A White Linen Affair on Friday, Dancing Angels Dance Competition on Saturday and Soul Food Sunday.

All of the events will be hosted in the Entertainment District of Water Avenue.

The White Linen Affair is $5 and starts at 7 p.m. It will feature live music from Cashmere Williams & Band. Vendors are welcome and can send in their applications along with a $50 fee for a vendor’s I.D. to the Mayor’s Office.

The Dancing Angels Dance Competition will start at 5 p.m. Admission is free.

Soul Food Sunday at the St. James Hotel will start at 11:30 a.m. Dine In and Curbside Carry Out will be available for $10.

Benjamin says that she is most looking forward to Independence Day’s event, Jazzy Weekend, which will take place from July 3 through 5.

The weekend will host jazz, blues and more during the music street festival. Day passes are available for $15 and weekend passes for $25. Vendors are also welcome to the event.

“One Hot Summer will go out with a bang,” said Benjamin when referring to the last event on the calendar, the Labor Day Weekend Finale. “The series of events we have planned for the summer will boost the morale in the city.”

To view a full calendar of One Hot Summer, for more information on the events, or to purchase tickets, you can visit benjaminanglea.wix.com/one-hot-summer