CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Plans are underway for the third annual Juneteenth Festival, hosted by Manifest Magic Black Girl Cooperative. Project manager for this year’s event Aminah Eyiowuawi said the celebration is a moment where we can all get together and celebrate.
The Juneteenth Festival, with the theme “We Are One,” is a free event for all ages, is open to the public and will take place on Saturday, June 17, from 2-9 p.m. at The Emerald Clarksville, 2631 U.S. Hwy 41-A.
“It’s a Black cultural event that allows the public to experience and enjoy others that may or not look like you. It’s a festival that engages the entire community to come together in peace, in love, in joy, and celebrate freedom,” Eyiowuawi said.
Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, was declared a federal holiday in 2021. It commemorates African American freedom and is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. It originated in 1865 with the observance of June 19 as the African Emancipation Day, and has also been known as, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day and Freedom Day.
The festival will feature live entertainment along with two DJs, a kid’s zone, a rolling arcade, spa, vendors, arts and crafts, food, a wine bar, a VIP lounge and more.
Along with the Juneteenth celebration at The Emerald Clarksville, there will be a parade at 10 a.m. at the Burt-Cobb Recreation Center, 1011 Franklin St. The parade will travel from Burt-Cobb, down Franklin, to North Seventh Street, to Main Street, to Ninth Street, to Franklin, and back to Burt-Cobb.
Manifest Magic is a nonprofit organization of Black women who support unity, inclusion and belonging, as well as providing resources for the community. “We do many events within the community, we host events that help educate the public, we become role models for the younger generation, and we exemplify excellence,” Eyiowuawi said.
To find out more about Clarksville’s Juneteenth Festival, email [email protected] or text “JUNETEENTH” to 931-340-7411, for vendor, parade and volunteer information