JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL: DOWNTOWN FRANKLIN
The Franklin Justice & Equity Coalition is making history with the first Juneteenth Festival in downtown Franklin, Tennessee.
On Saturday, June 19, 2021, the festival will kick off downtown at 10 am and last until 4 pm. There will be live music from two main stages and feature guest speakers.
This event is family friendly, with plenty of food trucks and over 40 vendors.
There will also be a Juneteeth Celebration taking place at Pinkerton Park from noon until 3 pm.
Please visit the City of Franklin calendar for more details as the event gets closer!
Juneteenth is a day of commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, it is often referred to as the Black Independence Day. It is recognized as a state holiday or observance in forty-seven states and the District of Columbia. Although the push to have it named as a Federal holiday has not been successful, the last four U. S. Presidents have made remarks about its observance. Over the course of 155 years, Juneteenth has become a global event.
Observances are usually community events, including parades, cookouts, picnics, festivals, marches, and prayer vigils. Given the current protests concerning the systemic racism that permeates our American culture – with the focus on police brutality and a biased criminal justice system, June 19th or Juneteenth takes on special significance. This day is to recognize African American freedom and achievement and take the time to promote and cultivate our appreciation of the diversity of cultures. In recent years, the celebrations have been global, as the sacrifices to achieve freedom are still ongoing.
The state of Tennessee passed legislation in 2007 (Tenn. Code Ann. §15-2-113 (2007) to recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday.