Daniel Prince
May 16, 2023
To beat the heat, event will be held from 4-8 p.m.
The third annual Juneteenth celebration in Union County is scheduled for Saturday, June 17. In an attempt to beat the heat, the event will be held later in the day than it has been, from 4-8 p.m. Once again this year, activities will be going on at the L.W. Long Community Resource Center and Main Street in front of the courthouse. The event is hosted each year by the Union County Community Remembrance Project, who seeks to remember and honor the victims of lynching in Union County and recognizing the resilience of the Black community through the national holiday of Juneteenth.
This year’s theme is Truth, Memory, and Reconciliation in Union County. Organizers say the theme is inspired by their coalition members who believe that everyone can share in learning about the history of our county without division.
Again this year, they will have different villages set up, each with different themes, including food, health, housing, education, employment, economic development, and life skills. They invite agencies, nonprofits, retail and food vendors, and fellowship groups to be a part of the event. They need vendors, service agencies, nonprofits, artisans, performers, genealogists, historians, churches, and more to participate. Booth spaces are $30 for a 10x10 space, with a maximum of two booths for a single entity. Bring your own tent, tables, and chairs, and be sure to be set up no later than 3 p.m. on June 17. Special consideration will be given for food trucks. They plan a Kids Zone with activities for the whole family. Marcus Foster, Jr. will again this year be working on a community art installation. Main Street merchants can partner with the UCCRP to participate in the event. Those with a Juneteenth sign in their window will be open with special event discounts. A car show is also planned, with cars, trucks, and bikes welcomed. There is a $25 entry fee, and the car line up will be at 2 p.m. For information on that, contact Truck Jeter at 466-5241. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place as well as best in show.
To get more information, you can go to Eventbrite.com and search for UCCRP. Click on the link for UCCRP Juneteenth Remembrance and Celebration 2023 and register as a participant, vendor, donor, sponsor, or guest. You can also check out the UCCRP Juneteenth Celebration page on Facebook.