The 13th annual Juneteenth Celebration begins Saturday with a 9 a.m. parade.
There is no fee to participate in the parade, which is being revived after a several-year hiatus. Organizers ask those who want to participate to gather prior to 9 a.m. at 1300 W. Monroe St., beside the Old Monroe Street School.
Those in the parade will march from West Monroe Street to Old Wilkesboro Road and then to Kelsey Scott Park, where Juneteenth festivities kick off at 10 a.m.
The Juneteenth Committee and First Legacy Federal Credit Union, formerly known as the School Workers Federal Credit Union, are billing this year’s event as “a celebration of family and community.”
Structured activities include:
– 10 a.m. to noon, basketball camp and the Bobby Jackson Summer League Basketball Game.
Also planned are children’s games sponsored by Enterprise Car Rental.
– Noon to 4 p.m., Salisbury Parks and Recreation Department employees will lead more entertainment for children.
– Noon, Juneteenth history and skit by the Ujamaa Merchants performers.
– 1 to 2 p.m., awards and acknowledgement.
– 4 p.m. until the end of the celebration, motorcycle and car show.
– 4 p.m. until the end the celebration, horseshoe tournament.
Other groups participating throughout the event are:
Kujimani South Praise Dance, Gloria Gray and Beverly Kerr; Kujimani South Drill and Step Team; St. Luke’s Praise and Dance Team; Rowan for Obama Unit; Greater New Freedom Praise Team;
Prevailing Praise; Mark Chambers and Destiny; Dorsett Chapel Gospel Choir; the Rev. Mike White; Cornerstone Church Gospel Choir and Hip Hop Praise Team; Sankoss Phespian Group; Freedom Aires of Woodleaf; soloist Tenisha Peek; Word of Wisdom ó Vicky Hyman;
Open Door Outreach Ministries; Arielle and Betty Eller Praise Dancers; Hair Show, Latifa Cato-White’s Barbershop; Newness of Life; soloists Lisa Conner and Janet Conner; Rev. Robert Rankin Jar, Nephis Records; Jerell Fluker and Tami Owens;
D Love; Judge Brandon; Carson Family Gospel Choir; Minister Mike White, Anointed For Christ Praise and Dance Team; Whitney Bate, Praise Dance; United House of Prayer Band; and Gethsemane Missionary Combination Choir, Melton Griffin.
Event Sponsors are First Legacy Federal Credit Union, Juneteenth Committee, Food Lion, Enterprise Car Rental, Wal-Mart, Domino’s Pizza, Sam’s Kwik Wash, Cheerwine Bottling, Chanaka Yatawara and First Union Bank.
Proceeds from the Juneteenth Celebration are used to support the festival in the following year.
For more information, call Juneteenth Coordinator Sherry Hawthorne at 704-245-0245 or the First Legacy Federal Credit Union at 704-637-6528, extension 252.