Free Juneteenth celebration in Vicksburg Friday

A free celebration of Juneteenth will be held in Vicksburg Friday, June 19.

The event is hosted by Cathy Sanford and Gina Hendrickson who both believe that this day is worth celebrating.

”We want everyone to know the importance of the day, and we also want everyone to show up and have a good time,” Sanford said.

Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of African Americans after the Civil War. On June 19, 1865, two months after Confederate Gen. Robert Lee surrendered, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform African American slaves that the war was over, and they were free.

The Juneteenth celebration will be held at the Vicksburg City Pavilion, 100 Army Navy Drive, from 5:30 p.m to 8 p.m.

The event will be family friendly and free of charge for everyone as Sanford and Hendrickson has reached out to people in the community for donations. There will be free food and drinks, and North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield will be cooking it up on the grill.

Voter registration will also be an important feature of the event. Emmarie Flaggs will be in attendance to explain the importance of voting. Also speaking will be Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr. along with TJ Mayfield, Bobbie Bingham Morrow and Pastor Reginald Walker.

Hendrickson and Sanford are asking that everyone at the event please practice social distancing and wear a mask while in attendance.

Voter registration will continue Saturday at the Watermark located at 1415 Washington St. from 8 to 11 a.m.