In the spirit of remembrance and celebration, Wake Forest gears up for its two-day Juneteenth shindig set to kick off this Friday at Taylor Street Park, courtesy of a partnership between the Northeast Community Coalition and the municipal powers that be.
The festivities, which are free and open to the public, swing into action with a "Community Gathering" from 5 to 7 p.m. on June 20. According to the Wake Forest website, this initial event is all about food, enjoyment, and bringing people together, it will feature arts and crafts, activities for all ages, and refreshments courtesy of Jay's Italian Ice, with the bonus treat that the Taylor Street Park Sprayground will also be in operation for some wet and wild fun.
On the agenda for the following day, June 21, is a walking parade kicking off from Hope House with a lineup at 9 a.m. It’ll take the party to the streets, parading its way to the historic Dubois School Campus, where deeper dives into history are on tap. For those keen on getting their steps and education simultaneously, the "Freedom Historical Walk" starts at 10:35 a.m., culminating with a revealing "History of DuBois" presentation, as per the Wake Forest website.
The energetic pulse of the Juneteenth event beats on into the afternoon between 1 and 5 p.m., where Dubois School Campus will serve as ground zero for an eclectic mix of free food, music, dance groups, and giveaways. Meanwhile, those looking to steep a bit longer in history can wander to the Ailey Young House from 10:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
