KLEK to host 7th annual Juneteenth celebration in Jonesboro

Several years ago KLEK co-founder LaGanzie Kale and others with the organization had a decision to make. The founder of the Juneteenth celebration in Jonesboro passed away, and now they would have to take on the challenge of organizing the event.

“We did not want it to die. We wanted it to continue,” he told Talk Business & Politics. “It’s a national holiday now. We want to educate people about why this holiday is important.”

KLEK will host its 7th annual Juneteenth in Jonesboro June 1-19. It previously won the Betty T. Sloan Promotional Award by the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce for promoting the city in a positive light.

For the fourth straight year, Juneteenth will be celebrated as a national holiday after President Joe Biden made it one after he came into office in 2021. 

All events are free. A full detailed list of events and performances as well as more information is available here.

A shop/Black Business Expo, community worship service featuring several local churches,  parade, community fair, fireworks and other events are planned.

About 3,000 people are expected to attend events in person while up to 17,000 people will watch some or all of the events streamed online.

Juneteenth celebrates the final day African-Americans were enslaved thanks to President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. However, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865 that Union Soldiers landed at Galveston, Texas with the news of the enslaved people’s freedom and end of the Civil War.

Kale said there are about 7-8 full-time volunteers and up to 20 more that help at the events. Booking venues, vendors and acquiring sponsors are a challenge every year, he said.

“One thing I want to say to the community … we are not trying to replace the 4th of July. We want to educate people about how slavery officially ended. It’s my favorite holiday. It’s my favorite time of the year.”

Scheduled events include: 

 June 7th – Juneteenth Community Worship Service featuring several local churches.

• June 15th – Juneteenth Parade 

• June 19th – Mayor Harold Copenhaver will read the Juneteenth Proclamation followed by the Juneteenth fireworks display.