Fort Smith, Northwest Arkansas celebrates Juneteenth
LOOK AT ALL THE EVEN THATST ARE TAKING PLACE FROM NOW, THROUGH SUNDAY. THE FIRST EVENT TO START THE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS I HAPPENING HERE AT THE RIVERFRONT AMPHITHEATER. THE “TO BE CONTINUED BRA SS BAND” WILL BRING THEIR N ORLEANS VIBE TO FORT STHMI THE MAYOR SAYS ALL OF THE EVENTS COMBINE CULTURE, THE ARTSND A GREAT ENTERTAINMENT. <MAYOR GEORGE MCGILL – FORT SMITH> “it’s a time to celebre when, that final day, wh en all people were made free in America, when that last group of slaves we notified that the war was over and that they were free .” FRIDAY NIGHT, FORT SMITH MAYOR GEORGE MCGILL IS HO STING THE SECOND ANNUAL “MAKING HISTORY GALA” TO HONOR COMMUNITY MEMBS ER WHO ARE MAKING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN OUR AREA. <MAYOR GEORGE MCGILL – FORT SMITH> “they’re the ones that me ak sure we’re living in a good place. These are the servant workers, these are the leaderths at give time and time again to make our community great d an they’ve done these things for a long time.” THE GALA IS AT FREEDOM FARMS AT CHAFFEE CROSSING. Y OU NEED TICKETS TO ATTEND AND IT’S ALREADY SOLD OU T. SATURDAY NIGHT AT 7, AT THE ARC BEST PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, THERE WILL BE A PERFORMANCE OF LORRAE IN HANSBERRY’S ‘A RAISIN IN THE SUN’. IT’S DIRECTED BY SILVIA MATHIS WHO NOW CALLS FORT SMITH HOME. <SILVIA MATHIS – DIRECTOR> “this is a version othf play that is very very true to the original intent of Lorraine and that is the idea that this particular rkwoing class black family in Chicago, they’re just regular people, th’re ey just like you.” THE PLAY GRAPPLES WITH WHAT THE AMERICAN DREAM MEA NS AFTER A FAMILY BUYS A HOME IN AN ALL WHITE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT’S BASED ON HANSBERRY’S OWN EXPERIENCES IN CHICAGO IN THE 1940’s. TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED THROUGH THE FORT SMITH CONVENTIONEN CTER. <SILVIA MATHIS – DIRECTOR> “what this play is celebrating, dreamans d passion and it touches on disappointment and heartbreak, but triuh mp ultimately.” “one of my actors said participating in this play, seei tnghis play, will change you. You’ll be different after seeing it and after participating in i” t. <MAYOR GEORGE MCGILL – FORT SMITH> “lots of things going on all weekend, lots of things to do and see and we encourage everyone, come out and see these productions. They’re top notch and people will enjoy them.” ON SUNDASTY ARTING AT 11 AT THE RIVER ONFRT PARK, THERE WILL BE VENDORS AND FREE ENTERTAINMENT…THE U.S. ARMY JAZZ AMBASSADORS WILL BE THE MAIN EVEN T. MAYOR MCGILL SAYS IT’S ALL TO CELEBRATE JUNETEENT H. <MAYOR GEORGE MCGILL – FORT SMITH> “it was almost two years after the actual civil war ended, but finally, down in Texas, they announced to those people who had been held in bondage longer than they should have been when it was announced that they are free. And we celebrate that, we celebrate that freedom and we embrace all of that. We all should celebrate that freedom because we’re all here in America and we all plaa role in making it a great place to live.” TONIGHT, THINGS KICK O FF HERE AT THRIE VERFRONT AMPHITHEATER AT 6:45. THE ‘TO BE CONTINUED JAZZ BAND’ WI PLLLAY SHORTLY AFTER THE OPENING
Fort Smith, Northwest Arkansas celebrates Juneteenth
Updated: 9:22 AM CDT Jun 17, 2022
Friday, June 17 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Fayetteville Juneteenth Committee & Community Cohesion Project will provide swag bags and boxed meals for people who have registered. 2 p.m. – Fayetteville The Arkansas Department of Health is holding a COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Gardens at the University of Arkansas.6:30 p.m. – Fort SmithMayor George McGill’s office will host the Making History Gala at Freedom Farms in Chaffee Crossing. It honors community members who are making a difference. 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Bentonville Crystal Bridges is hosting author Hannibal B. Johnson in a lecture commemorating Black Wall Street at the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Saturday, June 18 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Rogers Juneteenth Committee & Community Cohesion Project will provide swag bags and boxed meals for people who have registered. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Fort Smith The City of Fort Smith is holding a celebration at River Park and the Riverfront Amphitheater, including music, dancing, and comedy. 12:30 p.m. – Virtual Event The NWACCP is holding a virtual event. It includes appearances by Eric Benét, Dorian Hunter, and others. 6:15 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. – Fayetteville Let’s Talk NWA is holding a concert celebration with free food at Spring Shop Studios.7 p.m.The ArcBest Performing Arts Center will host a performance of Lorraine Hansberry’s ‘A Raisin in the Sun.’ The play is directed by Fort Smith’s Silvia Mathis. 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. – Bentonville Crystal Bridges is hosting a Forest Concert Series is hosting an exploration of Black protest music from the 1970s to the present.Sunday, June 191 p.m. to 9 p.m. – SpringdaleA Freedom Festival will be held at the Shiloh Pavilion in downtown Springdale. Montell Jordan is among the performers. Matter Of Fact Listening Tour: The Matter of Fact team has provided ABC 40/29 with a one hour special for air Sunday, June 26, at 6:00 p.m. “Matter of Fact LISTENING TOUR: Trailblazers, Troublemakers and Dreams,” offers new perspectives on the fundamental problems facing the nation, and the stories of people challenging the ways we address those problems.
- Friday, June 17
- Saturday, June 18
- Matter Of Fact Listening Tour: The Matter of Fact team has provided ABC 40/29 with a one hour special for air Sunday, June 26, at 6:00 p.m. “Matter of Fact LISTENING TOUR: Trailblazers, Troublemakers and Dreams,” offers new perspectives on the fundamental problems facing the nation, and the stories of people challenging the ways we address those problems.
