Want to celebrate Juneteenth but don't know how? Start with these Knoxville events

Becca Wright, Knoxville News Sentinel
·5 min read

One year after Juneteenth became an official federal holiday, Knoxville is preparing for a weekend of celebrations both festive and reflective.

Juneteenth, also known as Jubilee Day and Freedom Day, falls on Sunday this year but will be observed Monday by most federal and Knox County employees, who have the day off to celebrate Black freedom.

Knoxville has hosted some major Juneteenth events over the past three years, with thousands attending Knoxville College's Liberation Rally last year and a celebration at Caswell Park in 2020.

The holiday, which commemorates the freeing of enslaved African Americans, often is celebrated with music, dancing, barbecues and parades. It's also an opportunity to celebrate Black and African American history and culture while reflecting on how slavery and racism has affected our nation.

Shopper Blog: Juneteenth-MLK Parade is an 'opportunity for all Knoxvillians to unite'

The holiday is held on June 19 to match the date in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, took over the last state of the Confederacy, announced the end of the Civil War and freed nearly 250,000 enslaved people.

Despite the Emancipation Proclamation two and a half years earlier, people who owned slaves often ignored the order until troops enforced it. As a result, slavery continued in Texas until that day in 1865.

If you're looking to lift Black voices and celebrate Juneteenth in Knoxville, local groups have plenty of activities planned, including a panel on racial justice, a Juneteenth memorial tribute and freedom stories of local enslaved communities.

More: Enslaved man who lived in Knoxville left behind powerful words, but little else

Juneteenth events in Knoxville

Racial Justice Town Hall Part XXII: Two Years Later... Where Are We?

This in-person and virtual panel hosted by the Beck Cultural Exchange Center comes two years after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, sparked public protests and discussion surrounding racial injustice. The Beck Center is continuing those discussions with a panel featuring local civil rights activist Theotis Robinson, Rev. John Butler of the Knoxville NAACP, Knoxville Community Safety Director LaKenya Middlebrook and Knoxville Utility Board's diversity analyst Tanisha Fitzgerald-Baker.

Juneteenth Exhibition Tribute

The Beck Center will unveil a musical art exhibit that pays tribute to the history of Juneteenth. Artists Ty Murray and Daniel Craft will unveil a Juneteenth piano that will be placed in the center of the Beck Center's lawn. The piano will be installed as part of Knoxville's Piano Project, which places decorated pianos across the city for anyone to play. The Beck Center also will display white roses at its permanent outdoor exhibit "Emancipation" to honor those formally enslaved in Texas.

Stories of Emancipation at Mabry-Hazen House

The Mabry-Hazen House, featuring generations of family artifacts and heirlooms, will share emancipation stories about local enslaved communities. Visitors will explore how enslaved people connected to the Mabry-Hazen House gained their freedom and fought to dismantle American chattel slavery. Three tours will take place 10:30 a.m., noon and 1:30 p.m. Admission is free, reservations are encouraged and donations are appreciated.

Empowerment Day

The Knoxville Area Urban League is introducing the community to its various services during the Juneteenth weekend. The event will feature an expungement clinic, voter registration services, child support counseling, driver’s license reinstatement information, music from 99.7 FM WJBE and a local food truck.

  • When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

  • Where: 1514 East Fifth Ave.

  • Register for the expungement clinic: info@thekaul.org

Green McAdoo Juneteenth Celebration

Join the Green McAdoo Cultural Center in celebrating Juneteenth at its second annual festival. This year, the center will host a hair show, cake walk, bingo and live music from 3:30 p.m. to sunset. Kids also will be able to make tie-dye shirts for Father's Day. Food trucks include Deep South Fish Shack, Chick-n-Sack and Kona Ice.

Juneteenth Father's Day Dinner

Celebrate Juneteenth and Father's Day during a Juneteenth Father’s Freedom Dinner hosted by the Beck Center. The event will feature live music by Jazzspirations with Brian Clay and will be catered by Chris Baylock of Heart & Soul Catering. Tickets are $35 per person.

Martin Luther King Jr. March and Juneteenth Memorial Tribute

The annual Martin Luther King Jr. parade hosted by the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Commission will start at 10 a.m. at Chilhowee Park. Participants will march down Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue to Walter Hardy Park for a Juneteenth Memorial Tribute and Celebration hosted by the Beck Center. There will be remarks by Rev. Harold Middlebrook, a special Juneteenth presentation by Arteece Slay and music by Brian Salesky with Knoxville Opera and Michael Rodgers.

Becca Wright: Higher education reporter at Knox News
Instagram | Twitter | Email | 865-466-3731
Enjoy exclusive content and premium perks while supporting strong local journalism. To get started, visit knoxnews.com/subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Juneteenth events in Knoxville include a parade on new federal holiday