Henderson’s first celebration of Juneteenth will take place next week, thanks to a partnership with Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department and numerous local community agencies.
Tara Goolsby, HVRPD program superintendent, discussed the week’s scheduled activities Wednesday on Town Talk. Activities kick off on Sunday, June 13 at Fox Pond Park with a cookout from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. There will be a COVID-19 vaccination clinic, as well as craft activities for children, a deejay playing music.
The Juneteenth Week of Freedom continues on Monday, June 14 with a 6 p.m. presentation about genealogy by local expert Brandy Parker. This event will be held at Aycock Recreation Center.
The observation of Juneteenth comes from June 19, 1865, when word about enslaved people’s emancipation after the end of the Civil War finally reached enslaved people in Texas.
“This is the first time we’ve had a Juneteenth celebration in Henderson, and the first big event since COVID,” Goolsby said. “We’re excited that we’re bringing something new to Henderson, she told Town Talk host John C. Rose.
There will be a community information fair on Tuesday, June 15 at Aycock Recreation Center. Participants can learn more from representatives of various agencies and entities in the area, including Vance-Granville Community College, the Henderson Tobacco Warehouse, the City of Henderson human resources department and others. There also will be a booth for voter registration.
Between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., folks can take a bus tour of what had been known as Black Wall Street in Henderson. Goolsby describes this area as the general area of Montgomery Street. The bus will run every 30 minutes from Aycock to Montgomery Street and participants can learn more about the businesses that used to be in that area.
Goolsby said the organizers were intentional in their planning. “Of course, we want to have a celebration, but also want to provide people with information that they may not otherwise have access to,” she said.
Two presentations – one on the African diaspora and one on home ownership – will be given on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Aycock Recreation Center.
A street festival on Breckenridge Street will provide activities and excitement on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be food trucks, vendors and music. “I started watching the weather last week,” Goolsby said. “So far, it looks like it’s going to be an amazing day!”
Goolsby said Juneteenth is a time for celebration, but also a time for reflection. And she looks forward to planning future Juneteenth activities.
Goolsby said it’s not too late to register to be a vendor. Contact her at 252.438.3948 or tgoolsby@ci.henderson.nc.us to learn more.
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