Here’s a list of in-person, virtual Juneteenth celebrations in Columbus area
Juneteenth will be celebrated this Friday and multiple organizations around Columbus are hosting in-person and virtual events to mark the day that slaves in Galveston, Texas, learned they were finally free.
Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger issued the order in Texas two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued, according to PBS.org. Due to the lack of Union soldiers in the state to enforce the order, and other reasons, the slaves there believed that slavery was still in effect.
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Jubilee Day, has grown in popularity in recent years due to the day becoming an official holiday in the state of Texas, as well as local groups across the country organizing large celebrations.
Here is a list of events taking place in the Chattahoochee Valley throughout the weekend:
Know of a Juneteenth event in the area? Email the information to newsroom@ledger-enquirer.com.
FRIDAY
Juneteenth Block Party
The Akili Society is hosting a Juneteenth Block Party at Rigdon Park located at 1600 Howe Avenue in Columbus. Social distancing will be enforced by organizers.
Admission for the event is free and there will be free food while supplies last. There will also be a bounce house for kids, a slip-n-slide and black-owned businesses to purchase from, according to the event’s Facebook post.
The event begins at 6 p.m.
1st Annual Juneteenth Showcase
The Moon Adventure Zone, located at 3433 North Lumpkin Road in Columbus, is holding its grand opening celebration on Juneteenth. The business offers roller skating, paintball, dodgeball and more.
The Moon Adventure Zone will open at 4 p.m., according to the Facebook event page.
Juneteenth Virtual Celebration
The Gamma Tau Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated is hosting a Juneteenth Virtual Celebration from 8 p.m. until 9 p.m. The celebration will be held via Facebook Live on their Facebook page.
Juneteenth Social Justice March
There will be a social justice march in Opelika starting at 5:30 p.m. CDT. Rep. Jeremy Gray and community activist Janataka Holmes will be among the speakers, according to the event’s page.
The event will take place at the Lee County Courthouse Square, located at 215 South Ninth Street.
SATURDAY
Independence Day Rhythm Rising and Breakfast
The Liberty Theater Cultural Center will be hosting a peaceful bike ride, yoga and a breakfast on June 20, beginning at 8 a.m. and ending at 12 p.m.
People are being asked to bring a yoga mat or a towel and wear comfortable clothing. Those who don’t want to participate in the bike ride can come to the Liberty Theater at 9 a.m., according to a Facebook post from the organization.
The meet up location for the bike ride is the JP Thayer YMCA located at 24 14th Street in Columbus.
Safety recommendations
The CDC recommends that anyone attending a large gathering during the coronavirus pandemic should wear a face covering and stay six-feet apart from others as much as possible. They also recommend frequent hand washing or the use of hand sanitizer when washing isn’t available.
For more guidelines, check out the CDC’s website.