Michael Jackson's children, mother, fans Celebrate Michael Jackson's Birthday in Gary

^{Updated 30/08/2012 - Last update 02/09/2012}

Michael Jackson’s three children and mother spent his Birthday Wednesday touring the city of Gary and stopping at his former home and school. There was a news conference at the Majestic Star Casino to talk about events, where Prince and Paris posed for pictures.

After sitting outside in an SUV for about an hour, Michael Jackson’s children, Prince and Paris, finally came out to accept T-shirts and buttons from Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson.

Michael Jackson’s youngest son, Blanket, and his mother, Katherine Jackson, stayed in the SUV. Later, shortly before the vigil was to start, he joined his siblings to sign autographs. So did also La Toya.

La Toya, who was also there, told the crowd the family's musical fame started in the city, east of Chicago, and in "this little house." After saying, "We all love you, Michael," LaToya folded her hands and looked to the sky.

Rainbow/PUSH Coalition leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson showed up at the Tribute, stopping in the crowd before the vigil to pose for a photo with a Michael Jackson impersonator.

Rev. Jesse Jackson later said he thanked God for Michael Jackson and led the crowd in chanting, "Long live Michael!"

Freeman-Wilson sat in the SUV with the family for a little while and said afterward that she was reassuring the family that the city would honor their wishes.

“The kids are still shy,” the mayor said. “They didn’t grow up in the spotlight.”

The mayor said the family had spent the day touring the Jacksons’ hometown. She praised Katherine Jackson, who approached the mayor earlier in the year about taking part in celebrating Michael Jackson’s Birthday in Gary.

Fans danced to Michael Jackson's music prior to the arrival of his children and mother at the house at 2300 Jackson St., where fans have always piled stuffed animals, flowers and photos outside the tiny home in Gary.

Michael Jackson lived in Gary until 11, when in 1969 the family moved out of the city known for its steel mills after the Jackson 5 struck it big in 1969 with the release of their first album. Afterwards, in 1971, the Jackson 5 returned to perform two concerts played at West Side High School.

“Mrs. Jackson came to me and said I want to be intricately involved in this celebration because we want to come home to Gary, we want our children to know where their roots are, where their dad grew up,” Freeman-Wilson said.

The mayor said the fact that the Indiana General Assembly had also passed a proclamation honoring the Jacksons shows the city’s events honoring Michael Jackson continue to grow each year.

Events celebrating Michael Jackson’s Birthday will continue during the next three days, including at the SouthShore RailCats baseball game on Thursday, where Jackson’s children are expected to throw the first pitch.

A concert honoring Michael Jackson will then take place Saturday evening at the West Side High School. The event starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Michael Jackson's fans also visited the Forest Lawn to pay Tribute to Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson's daughter, Paris, posted the picture below on her Twitter account and wrote, "you guys are amazing!!!".

She also tweeted a photo of herself alongside her daddy writing, "Happy birthday daddy. I love you with all my heart, always and forever<33". Previously she dedicated these words to her daddy to Celebrate his Birthday, writing, "thru my joy & my sorrow , in the promise of another 2morro , i’ll never let u apart for ur always in my heart… happy birthday i love u daddy".

Before the vigil, Michael Jackson's children, 14-year-old Paris and 15-year-old Prince, were given blue "Team Gary" T-shirts by Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson as they posed for pictures at Majestic Star Casino.

"We just want you to know how much he meant to us and the city of Gary," the mayor said.

Paris and Prince didn't speak during the brief presentation.  

Michael Jackson's children, Prince, Paris and Blanket, were also spotted on Monday at the Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois, along with Katherine and La Toya. TJ, their co-guardian, also was there. Then, they traveled to Gary, where visited Michael Jackson's childhood home.

Michael Jackson's children, Prince, Paris and Blanket attended the game between the Gary SouthShore RailCats and the St. Paul Saints, held at Gary’s U.S. Steel Yard on Thursday night. All three children wore shirts emblazoned with the RailCats logo for the occasion. Michael Jackson's daughter, Paris, threw the first pitch, followed by her brother Prince, at the St. Paul Saints Vs.The Gary SouthShore RailCats baseball game at the U.S. Steel Yard in Gary, Indiana.

At Thursday's Gary RailCats game against the St. Paul Saints, pre-game activities included a performance by the musical group, "The Gratitude Project," which included their tribute song, "Dear Michael." Following the performance, Prince, Paris and Blanket emerged from the home dugout clad in customized RailCats jerseys. Soon their aunt La Toya joined. A couple of tearful fans entered the field hugging Paris. La Toya also went out to throw out a ceremonial first pitch.

Followed were photos with Boys and Girls Club members who presented gifts to the Jackson children and then with Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson. The family was then escorted back into the dugout and they watched part of the game from a suite above first base.

Katherine Jackson will attend a reception with the mayor tonight and a Tribute Concert takes place Saturday evening.

Katherine Jackson was the guest of honor at a special dinner Friday hosted by the Gary Chamber of Commerce and Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson at Majestic Star Casino & Hotel.

Freeman-Wilson said she spoke with Katherine Jackson before the dinner and that the King of Pop's mother believes, like the mayor, that there really is no place like home.

“For her, Gary is in fact home,” Freeman-Wilson said.

Freeman-Wilson said the legacy of Michael Jackson often is celebrated without acknowledging the legacy from which he came.

“We thought it was a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge that legacy,” she said.

Michael Jackson tribute artist Carlo Riley traveled from Colorado to attend the festivities in Gary, including the dinner. He said he’s been a fan of Michael’s since the day he was born in 1982 — the year “Thriller” was released. He met Michael’s mother last year in Gary and met Michael’s children Thursday at the RailCats game posing in a picture with Michael Jackson's daughter, Paris, and Michael's sister La Toya.

Riley said he met Michael Jackson in Tokyo in 2007 for the 25th anniversary party for “Thriller.”

“Sometimes people talk to me as if I was Michael,” he said. “They say they love my music. They know I’m not him, but they live that fantasy. It’s like Santa Claus for little kids.”

Lauren Krozser, 20, drove from Cleveland with her mother to attend the dinner. Wearing her replica Michael Jackson “Beat It” jacket, Krozser was hoping for a chance to meet some of the Jackson family members.

“I’m a huge fan of Michael,” she said. “I love that he was able to deliver such a great message and at the same time be cool and have everybody excited about his art."

Local talk show host Michael Essany was at the dinner and did some filming with the Jackson family Thursday at the RailCats game. The final product will be seen on one of the first episodes of Essany’s upcoming talk show “Seven on Ridge.”

“We’re here to celebrate Mrs. Jackson and the life and legacy of Michael," he said.

The Goin' Back to Indiana: Can You Feel It activities continue Saturday with a concert at the West Side Theatre Guild. Expected to attend is also "Extra’s" Mario Lopez.

Goin' Back to Indiana: Can You Feel It came to a close with a Tribute Concert at West Side Theatre Guild. Michael’s children, Prince, Paris and Blanket, along with Michael Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson, were the guests of honor treated to acts including The Alan Project, which performed a rendition of Michael’s “Rock with You.”

Performers also included The Gratitude Project "Dear Michael".

Andrew Cantu, of the local group Los Cordoba, came to the concert with his family.

“I’ve always been a fan of Michael Jackson,” he said. “I wanted to come and support Gary and the Jackson family."

John Paolini traveled from New Hampshire with his 12-year-old twin daughters. They attended the Katherine Jackson tribute dinner Friday at Majestic Star Pavilion and visited the former Jackson home Friday.

“It’s been a great time in Gary,” Paolini said. “We came here because of Michael Jackson. We love him. We’re big fans.”

Paolini said his family plans to attend the Michael Jackson Tribute events next year.

Sources: AP / examiner.com /nwitimes.com - Gary community.com