Clay County African American Legacy to host 25th annual Juneteenth celebration
LIBERTY, Mo. (KCTV) - Everyone is welcome to in a celebration with the Clay County African American Legacy honoring freedom and heritage during its 25th annual Juneteenth Celebration on June 6 and 7 in Liberty, Missouri.
The celebration begins on June 6 with open house tours of the Garrison School Cultural Center Museum from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Six permanent historical exhibits and an art gallery showing African American contributions to the region are available for exploring.
A dinner and comedy show headlined by Guy Torry, a St. Louis native, will close out the festivities on June 6. Torry can be seen for two shows at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Tickets are available for $25 on Eventbrite.
On June 7, Garrison open house tours are available from 9-11 a.m. A dedication of the Will Smith Basketball Marker at Ruth Moore Park on Grover Street will be at noon.
Smith was a Liberty resident who mentored youth through hosting annual basketball tournaments at the park.
After the dedication, a parade will start at Mississippi Street and travel through the downtown square to the Clay County Rooney Justice Square. At the square, a reenactment of the historic reading of General Order No. 3 will take place.
The order was issued on June 19, 1865, and announced the end of slavery in Texas and reaffirmed the freedom of all former enslaved people in the Confederate states. This came two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
A Gospel concert, educational programming for youth and scholarship awards will all begin at 3:30 p.m. at the Rooney Justice Square. These continued celebrations will be hosted by Guy Torry.
The Gospel concert will feature regional mass choirs from Iowa, and both Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri.
After the concert, Torry will host an informal dialogue at 3-Halves in Liberty.
Local art and craft booths, food vendors and restaurants throughout Liberty Square will all be available.
“We invite everyone to come out and celebrate freedom, community, and culture at this historic celebration,” said Peter Adams, Liberty Juneteenth Promoter
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