Washington comes alive with Juneteenth celebrations

A full day of activities is on tap as Washington celebrates Juneteenth. It is guaranteed there will be a little of something for everyone.

City of Washington “Unity in the Community” Juneteenth Celebrations

Saturday, June 15

10:00 am to 12:00 pm

• Ware Creek School aka Rosenwald School in Blounts Creek, site of the first formally organized celebration of Juneteenth in the 1980s
• Home-cooked breakfast will be served
• Performances by the United Drum Line from Aurora
• Opening remarks by Washington City Councilman Anthony Tyre

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

• Freedom Day Parade
• A lifelong resident of Washington Emma Howard will serve as grand marshal
• The parade route will begin at Gladden and Main Streets, making its way up Gladden along the Freedom to Prosperity Walking tour,  culminating at Beebe Memorial Park

4:00 pm – 7:30 pm

• Juneteenth festival at Beebe Park
• Opening remarks by Mayor Donald Sadler
• Live performances by The Monterio Experience, the United Drum Line of Aurora, and local Step teams
• Games, water slides, inflatables, informational Jumbotrons, and plenty of food for all of the celebrants
• 3 on 3 basketball challenge pitting a team of police and firefighters against teams of kids.
• A shuttle bus will also be available for those wishing to partake in the guided Freedom to Walking Tour, which will be narrated by P.S. Jones alum, Mr. James Smallwood.

4:00 pm – 7:00 pm

• Art exhibit at the P. S. Jones Museum of African-American Education
• Featuring the work of Daysha Bullock, who designed the t-shirts for this year’s event, 13-year-old Roemello Boston, who is a rising star, and Washington native and nationally recognized artist Tony Ward Sr., who won a Pfizer “Science Will Win” award
• Transportation to and from Beebe Memorial Park festival be provided.

Sunday, June 16

3:00 pm – 7:30 pm

• Gospel Fest at Beebe Park
• Featuring Tammy Edwards and the Edward Sisters
• Other musical entertainment provided by Long John and the Silver Stars, Nate’s Anointed Angels, Elder Micheal Boykin, and James Barrett and The Golden Jubilees
• Please bring your lawn chairs

Juneteenth Jubilee

Celebrating freedom in fellowship

A collaboration between the Beaufort County Arts Council, the Washington Waterfront Underground Waterfront Museum, and Building Integrated Communities

10:00 am to 12:00 pm

• Turnage Theatre
• Storytelling by Washington’s own “Story Lady” Mima Dixon
  • “Br’er Possum’s Dilemma and “The Big Wide Mouth Frog”
• Juneteenth Jeopardy featuring arts, history, trivia, and Latin American-related questions
• Bingo and scratch-off game
• Prizes
• Juneteenth-specific cuisine such as red velvet cake, strawberry soda, fruit punch, and watermelon
• Something for all ages

12:00 pm to 3:30 pm (sold out)

• The Estuarium will conduct river roving history tours
• Leesa Jones, director of the Washington Riverfront Underground Railroad Museum, will speak about the history of the Underground Railroad and Black history along the waterfront

4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

• Turnage Theatre
• Tar Pamlico Trolley history tour ride
• The tour will give you an inside look at the history of Washington’s Historic Waterfront.
• Free for the first 25 guests
• Register at artsofthepamlico.ticketleap.com/juneteenth-history-tours/

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