Juneteenth in Greenville, Anderson: Where to celebrate the holiday dedicated to freedom

A.J. Jackson, Greenville News
Updated ·5 min read
14

Greenville and the surrounding area are celebrating Juneteenth with empowering programs such as job fairs and economic summits to help people improve their lives, careers and appreciate Black history in America.

Activities surrounding Juneteenth will begin in Greenville and Anderson counties on Thursday, June 15. Greenville will hold a job fair and an economic summit on June 15 and Pendleton plans to host a fundraiser featuring card games, bingo, food, music and more. Money raised will go to future educational efforts for The Pendleton Foundation for Black History & Culture.

Juneteenth is the oldest Black holiday celebrating the emancipation of enslaved Black people in America. The first celebration began on June 19, 1865, when enslaved people learned about their freedom from federal troops who arrived in Galveston, Texas. It was more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863.

The Juneteenth GVL Mega Fest took place in Falls Park on June 18. The event is free for the entire family and featured a day full of cultural and live performances from local bands.
The Juneteenth GVL Mega Fest took place in Falls Park on June 18. The event is free for the entire family and featured a day full of cultural and live performances from local bands.

Celebrations honoring Black culture now are held in cities and communities across the country. The day was first recognized as a federal holiday in 2021 when President Joe Biden signed it into law.

The holiday is observed on June 19 to coincide with the first holiday which is how it became known as Juneteenth.

Here are the ways to honor the holiday and learn more about Juneteenth in Greenville and Anderson counties:

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Greenville Juneteenth Celebrations

  • Juneteenth Job Fair – 225 S. Pleasantburg Ave. – 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. June 15Corporate representatives from local manufacturers such as BMW, Milliken, Thermo King and more will be onsite with information on career possibilities. Event attendees are encouraged to bring copies of their resumes and other hiring materials necessary to discuss employment opportunities. This event is hosted by Juneteenth GVL and SC Works Greenville.

The Juneteenth GVL Mega Fest took place in Falls Park on June 18. The event is free for the entire family and featured a day full of cultural and live performances from local bands. Kevin Seymour of Columbia wore this shirt to the event.
The Juneteenth GVL Mega Fest took place in Falls Park on June 18. The event is free for the entire family and featured a day full of cultural and live performances from local bands. Kevin Seymour of Columbia wore this shirt to the event.

  • Black Economic Mobility Summit – Greenville Convention Center, 1 Exposition Drive – 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. June 15Conversations around generational wealth, financial freedom and economic mobility are at the forefront of this event hosted by Greenville Racial Equity and Economic Mobility Commission. The summit will welcome business leaders from around the country and community to discuss and share information on organizing, supporting and fostering economic growth and relief. General admission into the event is free, as VIP tickets already have sold out.

  • 2nd Annual Juneteenth GVL Mega Fest – Main and Broad Streets downtown Greenville – noon until 10 p.m. June 17Come out and enjoy live music, merchandise vendors, food, a kid's zone and more as the streets of downtown Greenville will be packed for the 2nd annual Juneteenth GVL Mega Fest. The event is free and will feature a day full of cultural showcases.

  • Juneteenth Celebration – 415 Hampton Ave. – 4 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. June 19 Faith-based music, spoken word, a bounce house for the children, food and more are happening at the Matoon Presbyterian Church and its celebration of Juneteenth. This year's theme is entitled: When I liberate myself, I help liberate others. This event is free.

  • K5 Cycling & Yoga with Vets – 20 E. Broad St. – 7 a.m. June 17 Join Juneteenth GVL and their 5K ride alongside the veterans of the Upstate as the ride beginning at the Camperdown Plaza will include two cycle bar rides beginning at 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Afterward, a yoga with vets session begins at 10:45 a.m. and is open to all. Those interested in biking can sign up at juneteenthgvl.org.

  • The Royal Gala – 1 Exposition Dr. – 7 p.m. until midnight June 17Come dressed to impress at The Royal Gala, the scholarship festival and fundraiser organized by Juneteenth GVL, Inc. which exists to support the annual Mr. and Miss Juneteenth scholarship program. This is a black-tie affair and will be an evening filled with funk, R&B, laughter and togetherness in celebration of Black culture and progress. Tickets begin at $125, and also include a three-course meal.

P'Asiah Sanders, 10, left, and Joyce Pond, 11, of Anderson, performs before the crowd with the I AM Strong Dance Company, an Interpretive Dance group, during the Anderson Area Remembrance and Reconciliation Initiative's Juneteenth event at Carolina Wren Park in downtown Anderson Saturday, June 19, 2021.
P'Asiah Sanders, 10, left, and Joyce Pond, 11, of Anderson, performs before the crowd with the I AM Strong Dance Company, an Interpretive Dance group, during the Anderson Area Remembrance and Reconciliation Initiative's Juneteenth event at Carolina Wren Park in downtown Anderson Saturday, June 19, 2021.

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Anderson Juneteenth Celebrations

  • African American Leadership Society Juneteenth Gala – 604 N. Murray Ave. (Anderson) June 16 – 6:30 p.m. The United Way of Anderson County has announced plans to host a Juneteenth Gala, according to Carol Burdette, executive director. Details of the event will feature an awards ceremony, and feature keynote speaker Angela Williams, an Anderson native and CEO of United Way Worldwide. Tickets are $65 per person and tickets can be found at unitedwayofanderson.org.

  • AnMed Juneteenth "The Unveiling" – 2000 E. Greenville St. (Anderson) – 5 p.m. June 19Join Herman Keith, the I AM Strong Dance Company and AnMed as their unveiling of a sculpture Keith created of wood and metal that depicts a tribute to the five lynching victims in Anderson. The event is a part of the Equal Justice Initiative and hosted by the Anderson Area Remembrance and Reconciliation Initiative and AnMed Office of Diversity. "We believe this incredible work of art will inspire conversations and experiences that reinforce our common virtues," said Juana Slade, chief diversity officer for AnMed. "This coincidental unveiling is AnMed's timely observance of Juneteenth."

  • Juneteenth Celebrating Freedom Fundraiser – 145 Town St. (Pendleton) – 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. June 17Expect to see card games, bingo, food, music and prizes given away at the Pendleton Community Center. The event is accepting $10 donations to participate in the card games/tournaments as a fundraiser toward programming future educational efforts for The Pendleton Foundation for Black History & Culture.

  • Celebrating Juneteenth Black Business Expo & Job Fair – 2106 Bolt Drive (Belton) – 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. June 17This event hosted at the Welfare Baptist Church and sponsored by Generation 4 will offer business empowerment workshops alongside business and food vendors with a guest comedian and job opportunities with local manufacturers.

If you have a Juneteenth event you'd like to have added to this list, or if there is something we missed, please email it to ajackson@gannett.com.

– A.J. Jackson covers the food & dining scene, along with arts, entertainment and more for The Greenville News and Anderson Independent Mail. Contact him by email at ajackson@gannett.com, and follow him on Twitter @ajhappened.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Greenville, Anderson Juneteenth celebrations: What is happening