In Memphis, residents can come together to celebrate Juneteenth at Health Sciences Park this weekend. The festival, which honors the end of slavery on June 19, 1865, will take place from 10 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday.
The decision to hold the festival at Health Sciences Park was made with the intention of increasing attendance from a diverse community. The event will feature a range of local vendors, food trucks, and health and wellness vendors for attendees to enjoy.
Juneteenth has been celebrated in Memphis for many years, but its significance has grown since President Biden made it a Federal Holiday in 2021. This day serves as a reminder of the announcement made by Union soldiers in Galveston, Texas that declared all enslaved people free.
Telisa Franklin, a businesswoman and entrepreneur, has taken on the leadership of the festival over the years and played a key role in moving it to Health Sciences Park downtown. The park holds historical significance as it was originally named for Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest, who was also a slave owner and early Ku Klux Klan leader. However, a statue of Forrest at the park was removed and relocated to a museum in recognition of its ties to the freedom movement. It serves as an important location for the Juneteenth celebration, highlighting how far we have come since the end of slavery in America.
Overall, this Juneteenth festival promises to be an exciting event filled with food, music, and celebration in honor of this important holiday that commemorates freedom and equality for all people.
