This year’s local Juneteenth celebrations will look a little different than usual. The Owensboro Black Expo announced there will be a drive-by parade Saturday, as well drive-up fireworks that evening to commemorate “Freedom Day.”
Juneteenth, also known as “Freedom Day,” is celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate emancipation from slavery in the United States on that day in 1865.
Owensboro typically holds the celebration at Kendall-Perkins Park, but they aren’t able to due so this year because of restrictions and closures due to COVID-19.
“It was kind of last-minute but we came up with the idea of the Juneteenth drive-by parade,” said Tiffany Davis, treasurer for Black Expo. “That just came from inspiration from the community with everyone doing the drive-by birthdays and graduations.”
Cars will line up at Cravens Elementary School beginning at 12:40 p.m. Saturday, and those participating are encouraged to decorate with red, green and black colors, and to support the Black Lives Matter movement.
The parade will officially begin at 1 p.m. and will be escorted by the police.
At 8 p.m. Saturday, there will be a fireworks show at 4th Street Baptist Church in the parking lot.
“It’s our first time doing fireworks so it’ll be an experience,” Davis said. “We’re just taking that risk so everyone can enjoy themselves and just have fun. This is just something in replacement for Juneteenth since we can’t have the actual festival.”
The event is open to the public. Davis said it’s important for everyone in the community to celebrate the event.
“It’s a part of American history,” she said. “We’re just excited and we want to continue to commemorate it. It’s for everybody. It’s a way for us to come together.”
