HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Juneteenth celebrates the official end of slavery after troops arrived in a Texas city in 1865 to ensure all slaves were free two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. In honor of this, June 19 is an executive branch holiday in Kentucky.

“Juneteenth is a celebration of progress, but it also serves as a reminder of our responsibilities as Americans and of the work that remains to be done,” said Gov. Andy Beshear in a news release. “We know that in order to move forward as a country, we need to look back at one of the ugliest chapters in our history, straight on, without turning away. We must learn from it, and we must work to repair the lasting damage to make progress for a better tomorrow.”

Here are prominent Juneteenth events happening in and near Hopkinsville the weekend of June 19. If you know of other events, email news@christiancountynow.com.

Hopkinsville Juneteenth Celebration

  • When: June 20, 4-8 p.m.
  • Where: Hopkinsville Visitors Center, 1730 East Ninth Street
  • Details: A community celebration with live music, family fun and food. Local vendors will be onsite with food trucks and a performance by Tina Brown at 6:30 p.m. People are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the concert.

Emancipation Proclamation reading

  • When: June 19, 9 a.m.
  • Where: Oak Grove Community Center, 1705 Thompsonville Lane
  • Details: Community members are invited to attend a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation outside of the community center. Attendees will honor the significance of Juneteenth and reflect on the message of freedom, unity and progress.

Fourth Annual Community Juneteenth Golf Scramble

  • When: June 19, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Where: Western Hills Golf Course
  • Details: MEDI, Inc. in Hopkinsville is hosting a charitable golf outing supporting decades of local small business development. Vendors will be at each hole along with a snack cart to make for a fun day on the green.

Nearby:

Juneteenth Block Party in Clarksville

  • Where: Dixon Park, 117 S. 10th Street Clarksville, Tennessee
  • When: June 20, 12-6 p.m.
  • Details: Hosted by Black Clarksville, the sixth annual Clarksville Juneteenth Block Party celebrates freedom, culture and community with live music, local vendors, food, DJs and family-friendly activities.

FreedomFest: Paducah Juneteenth Celebration

  • When: June 19, 5:30-8 p.m.
  • Where: National Quilt Museum, Paducah
  • Details: Paducah’s fifth annual celebration with live music, vendors and more on the front lawn of the National Quilt Museum. This event is hosted by the Paducah-McCracken Co. NAACP.

| MORE EVENTS: Visit our Summer Fun Guide to find more events in Christian County.