Photos submitted by Latisha Simmons
Special to the News
Coosa County celebrated its annual Juneteenth Festival last Saturday, June 15.
This year the planning team consisted of Good Grove Missionary Baptist Church, New Style Baptist Church, the SOS Queendom, and select members of Boyz N Da Woodz.
Despite the scorching heat, there was a record turnout as everyone came out to enjoy the festivities.
Sheryl Borden gave a beautiful selection of the Black National Anthem. The youth enjoyed snow cones and a cake walk, but not before stopping by the J.D. Thompson Alumni Association booth to get a history lesson on the origins of Juneteenth, as well as a festive temporary tattoo.
They also found a way to keep cool by playing on the water inflatables. The young and young at heart enjoyed ATV rides around the block as part of the day’s festivities, as well.
There was much to choose from with a variety of vendors including barbecue, chicken wings, cakes, fish plates, soul food, jewelry, clothing, and crafts. There was a little of something for everybody.
The grand finale was a spectacular fireworks show that garnered many oohs and aahs from the crowd!
Thank you to all of the organizations and sponsors who helped make this day a great success. It was certainly a great vibe, but let us not forget the importance of the occasion.
Juneteenth, a combination of “June 19th,” celebrates the moment in 1865 nearly two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, that Gordon Granger and his union troops made it to Galveston, Texas, to tell the last of the slaves that they were finally free.
Everyone took to the streets to celebrate their newfound freedom. What a joyous occasion! Happy Juneteenth!
