Juneteenth events planned for Friday, Saturday and Monday

Members of the Wheatley School Board of Directors and Black History Museum of Poplar Bluff are shown with Poplar Bluff NSDAR members from l to r: Vernestine Kennedy, Wheatley Board of Directors President Mike Richey, Rhonda Kennedy, NSDAR member Brenda Yarbro, Kathern Harris and NSDAR member Venita Walker, Rev. Ron McCain, NSDAR state chapter historian Margaret Shackleford, Donald Brandon and Rex Rattler.

Photo provided

Juneteenth celebrations will take place throughout the coming weekend.

Events begin Friday at Northside Community Center.

Opening ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m., with educational information about Juneteenth. The event will include games, arts and crafts, music and bingo. Lunch will be served. Children 12 and under eat free. A hotdog meal with chips, a drink and a cookie will be $3 for adults, or $5 for two. Nachos can also be purchased for $3.

On Saturday, events will take place at Bacon Park. This begins at 9 a.m. with a prayer, followed by music with Dee Williams and Ashley Matlock. There will be karaoke, a kickball tournament, spades tournament, talent show, sack races and fireworks.

There will be a barbecue cookout, as well as an opportunity to talk with firefighters about fire safety and prevention at 1 p.m. A 3-on-3 basketball tournament will be held at 4 p.m.

Around 7 p.m., live music will begin featuring, Yung Zues, Jay Muney, Steezo Lit and Niko Baby.

Along with the entertainment and many activities that are planned for the event, there will also be vendors selling various food and merchandise items.

On Monday, Wheatley School and Black History Museum will host Freedom Options: Breaking Every Chain. The program will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 830 Garfield St.

A panel of eight to 10 people will present career options, said Wheatley Historical Preservation Association Vice President Rex Rattler.

The program is designed to “show how the decisions we make affect our lives,” Rattler said.

The panel will discuss a variety of career options from working in trades to professional occupations, as well as “making good choices and taking advantage of the freedoms offered,” he said.

A raffle winner will be chosen at noon for the Poplar Bluff Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) “freedom” quilt.

NSDAR state chapter historian Margaret Shackleford of Poplar Bluff said the idea of donating the quilt came after the group viewed a video of Wheatley School discussing necessary repairs the historic school building needs.

“We couldn’t give a big donation,” said Shackleford “but we could make a quilt for them to raffle.” Several of the NSDAR members sewed the quilt blocks and chapter member Venita Walker quilted the piece, added Shackleford.

Rattler stressed everyone is welcome to come to the event, which the WHPA traditionally holds on the Juneteenth federal holiday, which this year is Monday, June 20.