Juneteenth celebration to feature several events

Published 2:00 pm Tuesday, June 4, 2024

In celebration of Juneteenth 2024, the Dalton Whitfield NAACP will offer an array of community events.

Juneteenth is the federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. It marks the anniversary of when freedom finally reached Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, with the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation at the end of the Civil War, two-and-a-half years after it was signed. This is a moment in American history that all Americans can celebrate, and Dalton’s annual Juneteenth celebration does just that.

Dalton Whitfield NAACP officials are proud to recognize Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union as the Juneteenth premier sponsor for the second year in a row. They also extend their gratitude to Beautiful Smiles by Design as an event sponsor. The Juneteenth events would not be possible without TVFCU, Beautiful Smiles by Design and other sponsoring community partners: Shaw Industries Group, Alliant Health Plans, BLACK (Building Leaders and Cultivating Knowledge, A Shaw Associate Resource Group), the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia, Mohawk Industries, Dalton Utilities, Khensani Business Advisors and Foundation Direct Family Care.

— Friday, June 14, Queens of Juneteenth: 7 p.m., Dalton High School theater. An evening of magic, honoring 60 and over queens. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased from any of the contestants or President Marisa Kelley (913-426-7870).

— Saturday, June 15, Juneteenth Parade: 10 a.m., Pentz Street in downtown Dalton, followed by tours of the Emery Center. Free and open to the community. Contact Kelley to sign up as a parade participant.

— Saturday, June 15th, Juneteenth Gala: 5 p.m., Dalton Convention Center. A celebration of freedom and community. This event is open to everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity or background, as freedom, equality and unity are celebrated. The keynote speaker is Michael Thurmond, CEO of DeKalb County, Georgia, an attorney, author and motivational speaker. He has previously served in the state legislature, as director of Georgia’s Division of Family & Children Services, Georgia labor commissioner and as superintendent of DeKalb schools. In 1997 he became a distinguished lecturer at the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute. A special thank you to Beautiful Smiles by Design, the event sponsor. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at the Mack Gaston Community Center.

— Wednesday, June 19, A Summer Celebration of Culture and Freedom: 5 to 8 p.m., Mack Gaston Community Center Pavilion. Music, barbecue sliders and strawberry soda, a free event, open to the community.

— Friday, June 21, Summer Concert: 6:30 p.m., Burr Performing Arts Park. The Dalton Whitfield NAACP and the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia host this week’s installment of the Off the Rails Summer Entertainment Series with AB & Groove Therapy, MonoChrome and Zowie Boyd.

— Saturday, June 22, Spades Tournament and Fish Fry: The fish fry starts at 4 p.m., tournament at 5 p.m., at the Emery Center. Entry is $40 per team, winning prize $200 and bragging rights, sign up by June 14 with Kelley at (913) 426-7870.

— Sunday, June 23, Nana’s Family Fun Day: 1 to 5 p.m., Mack Gaston Community Center Pavilion. Music, vendors, food and vibes, a free event, open to the community. Fun for all ages. Sign up to be a vendor by June 14 by contacting Kelley.

Submitted by the Dalton Whitfield NAACP.