KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) – East Tennessee will soon celebrate Juneteenth. According to the Beck Cultural Exchange Center in East Knoxville, it commemorates the end of slavery and dates back to 1865.
On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers, including black soldiers led by General Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the war was over and the enslaved were now free. This was two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was signed on January 1, 1863.
Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, became a federal holiday on June 17, 2021.
Events in East Tennessee:
KNOXVILLE
2024 Annual MLK March/Parade and Juneteenth Celebration Hosted by the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Commission.
- When: Wednesday, June 19, 2024
- Where: Chilhowee Park & Exposition Center, 3300 E. Magnolia Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37914
- This year’s theme, “Party in Hardy,” promises an exuberant day of celebration and remembrance at Dr. Walter Hardy Park following the parade.
The Beck Center calls the event “a celebration of freedom and heritage!” It will begin with registration and lining up at Chilhowee Park, offering community members the opportunity to actively participate in this historic march. The parade schedule begins at 8:30 a.m. and will then begin at 10 a.m. The festivities will culminate at Dr. Walter Hardy Park, where the Juneteenth celebration hosted by the Beck Cultural Exchange Center will begin at noon with a variety of activities, performances, and educational opportunities.
Parade Participation: Don’t miss your chance to be a part of the inspiring MLK Jr. parade! To register and more details, visit www.mlkknoxville.com/parade/
Parade Route: Begins at Midway (Chilhowee Park) 3300 E. Magnolia Avenue, Knoxville TN 37914. The entrance to Midway Chilhowee Park is directly off North Beaman Street, parallel to Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue. The parade route will pass along MLK Avenue and end at Walter Hardy Park.
Transportation: KAT buses will provide transportation to parade participants who park at Overcoming Believers Church on Harriet Tubman Street and Tabernacle Baptist Church on Cruze Street. Buses will run from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm and will transport visitors to the Midway Chilhowee park entrance.
Vendor Opportunities: Retail vendors, food trucks, and community organizations are invited to join. There are limited spaces available and the Beck Center requests a $25 “pay what you can” donation to reserve your space as a vendor. Register early at www.mlkknoxville.com/vendor-form/ to guarantee your participation.
“Come march with us as we continue Dr. King’s legacy of unity and peace.”
OAK CREST
He Oak Ridge Citywide Juneteenth/Freedom Day Celebration will be held on Saturday, June 15 at the Old Scarboro School site on Hampton Road from noon to 6 p.m. There will be vendors, a bounce house, face painting, tattoos, bingo, free giveaways for youth, live gospel and R&B music, as well as spoken word and more.
CLINTON
Enjoy the McAdoo Green Cultural Center on Wednesday, June 19 from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm, for their Juneteenth celebration, sponsored by the Tennessee Valley Authority. Jazz on the Hill’s June 16 gospel celebration will be held on the center’s front lawn. In case of rain, the concert will be moved to the Green McAdoo Gym.
MORRISTOWN
Keisha Monroe and the Morristown Diversity Task Force will host the June 19, 2024 celebrations from 5 pm to 4 pm on the farmers market green area.
ATHENS
The McMinn Chapter of the NAACP will host a Juneteenth Community Celebration: A Celebration of Culture on Saturday, June 22, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at JL Cook Memorial Park at 414 Cook Drive in Athens. The free event will feature live music, food and dancers.
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