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The city of Franklin’s inaugural Juneteenth Cultural Celebration will run from Saturday, June 17, through Monday, June 19, with events being held at Bon Secours – Southampton Medical Center, the Hayden Village Center, Armory Field, Barrett’s Landing Park and College Drive Park.

The city is partnering with nonprofit Amun Ra Inc. to make this festival possible.

As noted by History.com, Juneteenth is short for “June Nineteenth” and is a holiday commemorating June 19, which marked an effective end of slavery in the United States.

Helping lead efforts to put on the celebration was Ward 3 Councilman Gregory McLemore, who gave a final update on the event at Franklin City Council’s Monday, June 12, meeting.

“We look forward to a very auspicious time,” he said. “We have three days of activities. At the Armory Drive Park, we have cornhole, we have concerts at Barrett’s (Landing) Park, and we have lots of activities for the younger people at College Drive (Park), including computer buses and free hot dogs and hamburgers and just celebrating Juneteenth and the cultural experience of the holiday.”

SATURDAY, JUNE 17

The celebration will begin with a wreath-laying ceremony from noon-12:30 p.m. at Bon Secours – Southampton Medical Center, which is located at 100 Fairview Drive.

Hayden Village Center, which is located at 680 Oak St., will feature the following events:

• 1-2:30 p.m. Black history program 
• 3-4:30 p.m. Designer fashion show

Armory Field, which is located at 910 Armory Drive, will feature the following events:

• 1-5 p.m. Cornhole beginners
• 5-10 p.m. Blind draw cornhole

Barrett’s Landing, which is located at 100 E. Barrett St., will feature the following events:

• 1-4 p.m. Motown/beach music
• 2-5 p.m. Nat Turner tours
• 4-7 p.m. Open mic
• 7-10 p.m. DJ

College Drive Park, which is located at 301 S College Dr., will feature the following events:

• 1-4 p.m. Free cookout
• 1-2 p.m. DJ
• 2-2:30 p.m. Remote control cars
• 2:30-4 p.m. Basketball tournament
• 4-4:30 p.m. Family sack race

SUNDAY, JUNE 18

Armory Field will feature the following events:

• 9:30 a.m.-noon Father and child cornhole
• 12:30 p.m.-until Cornhole cash tournament

College Drive Park will feature the following events:

• 2 p.m.-until Basketball tournament championship
• 2-4 p.m. DJ
• 4-5:30 p.m. Open mic

Barrett’s Landing will feature the following events:

• 1-2 p.m. Gospel DJ
• 2-3 p.m. African drummers and dancers
• 2-5 p.m. Nat Turner tours
• 3-3:45 p.m. Old School DJ
• 3:45-4:45 p.m. Legacy Band
• 4:45-5 p.m. DJ
• 5-5:30 p.m. Michael Jackson Tribute
• 5:30-7 p.m. Ra Jazz Band
• 7-7:30 p.m. DJ line dance
• 7:30-9:30 p.m. Luther Vandross Tribute
• 9:30-10 p.m. DJ

MONDAY, JUNE 19

Barrett’s Landing will feature the following last events of the celebration:

• 3 p.m. DJ
• 3 p.m. Kid’s Computer Bus
• 5 p.m. Open mic competitions finals
• 6 p.m. Phenomenal Sounds Band
• 8 p.m. Closing speeches and red toast

Food trucks and other vendors will be present during the celebration, giving visitors refreshment and shopping options.

For more information, visit www.juneteenthcofva.com.