Juneteenth celebrations abound across the Hub City, West Tennessee
Residents, businesses and organizations are gearing up for celebrations across the Hub City and West Tennessee to commemorate Juneteenth. Families will be celebrating with live music, poetry, and keynote speakers while reflecting on the journey of African Americans to freedom and equality.
Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, signifies when those enslaved in Galveston, Texas finally got the word that they were freed, two years after President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, following the Civil War. The U.S. first celebrated the event in Texas in 1866. U.S. President Joe Biden signed a proclamation making it a day of national observance on June 18, 2021.
The Hub City and surrounding areas in West Tennessee will offer numerous opportunities for the community to celebrate this weekend.
Celebrations will be packed with a wealth of information that will impact families for the better for years to come.
Previously: African American Heritage and Music Festival will celebrate Juneteenth
OPINION: Juneteenth is official recognition of crucial piece of Black history
Saturday
Jackson Juneteenth: 33rd Annual Freedom Day
Guest speakers, live music, children's activities, food and merchandise vendors
10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
T.R. White Sportsplex, 304 N Hays Avenue, Jackson
Juneteenth: A Celebration of Black American Freedom
Cemetery clean-up and fundraiser
12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
670 TN-118, Dresden
Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom
Vendors, a food truck, and TSU / Meharry Partnership with free dental screenings and health and wellness education, hosted by the NAACP, Brownsville Haywood County Branch
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Brownsville Heritage Park on Jefferson Street in Brownsville
Juneteenth Celebration, Henning
Seasoned to the T will be cooking up a variety of seafood, soul food and pasta.
350 Moorer Ave., Henning
3rd Annual Trenton Juneteenth Celebration
10am – Sundown
8th & Lexington St. @ Old Green Projects
Juneteenth: A Celebration of Black American Freedom
Performances by actor and director Flo Roach and the Nubian Theater Company Dance Troupe, Theresa Blalark, Damon Gentry and NuCreation, Jaylong Flagg, the Oak Grove Church youth praise team and the Juneteenth Celebration band; Attendees are encouraged to bring their own blankets, chairs and fishing gear. Food will be available from Perry's BBQ and Catering.
Sponsored by: Ryan Trump and The Weakly County Reconciliation Project (WCRP)
7 p.m.
Discovery Park of America, 803 Everett Blvd, Union City
A Juneteenth Celebration
Guest Speaker: Gerard Arnold. All vendors welcomed. For more information, call 731-967-2928.
Montgomery Cultural Enrichment Center, 125 Montgomery Way, Lexington
From last year: Jackson’s first Miss Juneteenth Pageant was a part of celebrating Blackness, pride, history
More: Memories of Black Civil War soldiers honored on Madison Co. Courthouse lawn
6th Annual African-American Heritage and Music Festival
Live music, poetry, food and clothing vendors, fun for kids, and celebrating family
1 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Viking Park, Humboldt
A Juneteenth Celebration
Kids Corner, Food Truck Alley, vendors, kickball and 3-on-3 basketball tournament, 50/50 Raffle and more
10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Polk Clark, 1041 Harris Street, Milan
Sunday
Juneteenth Brunch and Day Party
Brunch style day party, complete with catered brunch and bottomless mimosas
5 p.m.
Studio 615, 615 Royal Street, Jackson
6th Annual African American Music and Heritage Festival
Live music, poetry, food and clothing vendors, fun for kids, and celebrating family
12:30pm - 7:30 p.m.
Viking Park, Humboldt
Katrina Smith is an education reporter at The Jackson Sun. Send those story ideas to kmsmith@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: Celebrating Juneteenth in Hub City and West Tennessee: A list of events
