Juneteenth ‒ also known asJubilee Day, Emancipation Day and Freedom Day ‒ falls on a Wednesday this year and will be marked in Knoxville with festivals, a parade, music and other activities on and around June 19 to celebrate Black freedom.
Officially declared a Tennessee state holiday a year ago, and a federal holiday three years ago, Juneteenth will be observed by federal, city of Knoxville and Knox County employees.
Juneteenth (short for June 19th) marks the date in 1865 when the last enslaved people in Texas were informed they were free, and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. The holiday is often celebrated with music, services,food, parades and other activities. It's also an opportunity to learn more about Black and African American history and culture while reflecting onhow slavery and racism has affected our communities and what it means to be truly free.
If you would like to see your Juneteenth event featured on this list, email hayley.choy@knox.news.com.
Juneteenth Celebration: Taste and See the History
June 15 - Cherokee Health Services
Participants in a free one-mile walk starting at 10 a.m., led by Cherokee Health Services’ Director of Research and Health Equity Dr. Eboni Winford, can learn about Knoxville's Black history. The walk, starting behind CHS’ East Knox location, 2202 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., will finish at a 10:30 a.m. community celebration at Dr. Walter Hardy Park. Soul food tasting and refreshments will be available with a special performance by Drums Up, Guns Down.
Oak Ridge Citywide Juneteenth Freedom DayCelebration
June 15–Oak Ridge Citywide Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration
TheOak Ridge Citywide Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration will be noon-6 p.m. June 15 at the old Scarboro School Site on Hampton Road. Along with food, drink and apparel vendors, the event will feature carnival games, face painting, live gospel music, bingo, bounce houses, children's activities, dramatic dance and spoken word performances, and rhythm and blues music.
MLK Jr. Parade March and Juneteenth Celebration
June 19–Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission
The 2024 MLK Jr. Parade March and Juneteenth Celebration, presented by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Commission, will begin with registration and line-up at 8:30 a.m. at Chilhowee Park. The parade will begin at 10 a.m., proceeding down MLK Jr. Boulevard and ending at Dr. Walter Hardy Park. The Juneteenth Celebration will start at 11 a.m. at the park. The celebration will include live entertainment, a DJ, music performances, drumline, precision drill team, kids area, food vendors, retail vendors and crafts. For more information and to register, visitmlkknoxville.com.
Juneteenth Spruce Up
June 19–AIA East Tennessee and Keep Knoxville Beautiful
Join AIA East Tennessee and Keep Knoxville Beautiful in celebrating the historic Juneteenth Holiday by giving back to the community in a Juneteenth Spruce Up. Volunteers will pick up litter from the area of Austin East High School 9-11 p.m. June 19. For more information and to register, visit aiaetn.org.
The Green McAdoo Cultural Center Juneteenth Gospel Celebration
June 19–Green McAdoo Cultural Center
The Green McAdoo Cultural Center will have its annualJuneteenth Celebration4:30-8 p.m. with the Jazz on the Hill series, presented on the front lawn of the center.
Juneteenth Commemoration with state Rep. Sam McKenzie
June 19–Beck Cultural Exchange Center
The Beck Cultural Exchange Center will kick off its Juneteenth events with a commemoration of the holiday with tours, exhibits and activities starting at 10 a.m. A Young Adult Town Hall will be at 4 p.m. at the Beck Center. A Taste of Soul Food event will begin at 5 p.m. A Tennessee Black Caucus meeting, including Chairperson State Rep. Sam McKenzie, will be 5:30-7 p.m.
Stories of Emancipation at Mabry-Hazen House
June 19–Mabry-Hazen House
The Mabry-Hazen House, featuring generations of family artifacts and heirlooms, will shareemancipation stories about local enslaved communities. Visitors can explore how enslaved people connected to the Mabry-Hazen House gained their freedom and fought to dismantle American chattel slavery. Three special Juneteenth Day tours will start at11 a.m., 1 p.m.and 3 p.m. Admission is free, but reservations are encouraged and donations are appreciated. Visitmabryhazen.comfor more information and to make reservations.
June 22–Mabry-Hazen House
Patrick Hollis, the executive director of Mabry-Hazen House, will give a presentation at 6 p.m. June 22 on the life and emancipation of Wiley Mabry. The story offers a celebratory yet sobering tale of the lengths enslaved African-Americans took to obtain their freedom. Admission is free.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville to mark Juneteenth with parade, celebrations, music
