The Town of Greeneville and the George Clem Multicultural Alliance announce event details for Greeneville’s third annual Juneteenth celebration. The local event will offer free festivities for all ages from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 15, at Bicentennial Park and the Big Spring behind the Greeneville-Greene County Library.
Adam Dickson, Supervisor at the Langston Community Centre in Johnson City, will be this year’s emcee. Dickson currently serves as Town Alderman and Vice-Mayor of Jonesborough and as an Instructor of Political Science at East Tennessee State University. He is also heavily involved in the community, serving as Vice-President of Johnson City’s Boys and Girls Club, chair of the Johnson City Martin Luther King Steering Committee, and was recently appointed to the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth.
Headlining entertainment will be Billy Simmons, who will take the stage at 6 p.m. Other entertainers leading up to the headliner include Phillip Hall and Carol Guthrie.
The celebration will begin at 4 p.m. with a welcome from Town officials with Candi Turner and Shanda Story of GCMA. Scripture reading and prayer will be led by Reverend Andy Blackwelder of Greeneville Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Carol Guthrie will lead the crowd in singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
In addition to live entertainment, the Juneteenth celebration will feature food vendors and activities throughout the day. Island Vibe Grill, Southern Flo’s, and Tastee Tee’s will be selling food at the event. The Kids’ Zone, hosted by FCC Greene, will feature games and fun. Other activities include inflatables hosted by the Greeneville Youth Builders and art activities and displays from the Greene County Makers and Greeneville Arts Council. The Greeneville Fire Department will be on-hand with a fire engine and the Greeneville City Schools Book Bus will also be there. Informational and vendor booths from Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, the Greene County Heritage Trust, TKM Sensations, and Atlas Books will be set up. Attendees are asked to bring their own lawn chair or picnic blanket to enjoy the festivities.
Admission is free thanks to these sponsors: Andrew Johnson Bank, Atlas Books, C&C Millwright, CLASS Land & Auction, W.T. & Andy Daniels, Mayor Cal Doty & Jolynn Doty, Friends of the GCMA, Greene County Heritage Trust, Greene County Partnership, Greeneville Federal Bank, Heritage Community Bank, McDonald's (Asheville Highway location), Premium Waters, Tennessee Arts Commission, Town of Greeneville, and Towne Square Package Store.
More details can be found at www.facebook.com, then search for the event “Greeneville Juneteenth” or by visiting www.greenevilletn.gov.
Juneteenth, which became a federal holiday in 2021, commemorates the June 19, 1865, announcement proclaiming freedom for enslaved people in Texas, the last state of the Confederacy with institutional slavery.
For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Carla Bewley at csbewley@gmail.com or 423-639-8322. If you would like to volunteer at the event or set up an informational booth, please contact Christina Potts at cpotts@greenevilletn.gov or 423-783-2860.