Happy Friday. Everybody is Friday. TGIF
You got here,
cheeks. Yeah, that's right.
Inch, poke. Buy me a Coke. I've
never heard that one. What
about if I don't want to do either above.
Neither pinch nor poke or by anyone.
Never did that in school.
Never heard of that.
Never heard that either.
OK, anyway, hey, Friday everybody.
Jinx or not, a big weekend ahead.
Weather looks pretty decent for one. Not
bad, not bad at all.
A little warm. But OK. Father's
Day. And also Juneteenth.
We got a bunch of Juneteenth
celebrations happening around our area.
And Larry, you caught up with
the organizer of the Juneteenth
festival. It's a it's a it's,
you know what an experience.
And really, when you hear the story,
it started right for the South.
Right here. That's amazing.
House of Africa. Take a look.
By the time Patton OJ
moved to Charlotte in 1996,
it had been 131 years since a Union
general proclaimed in Galveston,
TX that all slaves had been freed,
an event that was celebrated as Juneteenth,
at first in Texas and eventually
throughout the South and beyond.
And I got here. I say, why not
Juneteen right here in Charlotte?
And that's how I started in 1997,
over quarter century ago.
Juneteenth means a lot to Pep.
He believes it's a great way
to maintain a connection to a
culture that goes back centuries.
Use Doon Teen to educate about the
rich culture of Africa and the
powerful heritage with the opening
drum circle right here on Towns Ave.
because we also believe that
communication is the key of everything.
In in African culture,
drumming is symbol of communication.
Pat's Juneteenth celebration has
events that are all familyfriendly.
In fact, they kick off the
festivities with a day for kids,
teaching them about mask making,
the face painting, acting,
you name it, we got it there.
Hosting the festival and seeing
how much it has grown over
the years makes Pap very proud
that Juneteenth festival of the Carolinas.
Have given birth to all the Juneteen,
not just in Charlotte,
but in the Southeast and beyond.
A celebration of history,
freedom and fun.
That's what Juneteenth of
the Carolinas is all about,
right here in Plaza
Midwood on Thomas Ave.
Larry, sprinkle
back to you.
So cool to check out the history
there. That whole area, they closed down.
Thomas is right right off Central Ave.
and it's closed off and
you come in as his fan.
It's very family friendly.
It's great culture,
great music, great food.
And didn't you say
this morning that you did a
store with him 26 years ago?
Well, one over there yesterday, in fact,
I was talking to me, said Larry,
do you remember when we did this,
when we first started?
When you're right, I almost forgot
about that 26 years ago, 26 years ago.
And you know, when you think about it.
He he started it for the Southeast.
It was nationwide, but not nothing.
So it really started right here
in Shawn has grown nationwide.
Amazing. It's a cool shop too.
And a lot of events going on
this weekend as well, right?
Yes, that's right. So a lot to
celebrate this weekend.
If you're looking,
we've got the info for you.
So again Juneteenth is the federal
holiday marking when the last slaves
were told that they were free.
So going over some vents
happening across the Carolina.
If you're looking at
participate Bessemer city.
Is hosting its 5th annual
Juneteenth Festival.
That's from 6:00 to 10:00
tonight in Centennial Park.
There's gonna be live music, dancing,
food and activities for the kids, of course.
Then tomorrow,
the North Carolina Juneteenth
Unity Festival is happening.
That's at the Cabarrus Arena.
In Event Center.
You'll find more than 100 black-owned
companies along with crafts and performances.
And then that's from 1:00 to 5:00 PM And
as folks wrap up at the Unity Festival,
the ADA Jenkins Center is hosting its
annual celebration that starts at 4:00.
Free dinner for the 1st 400 people
who stop by the Welcome tent.
So make sure you get there early.
We've got a whole list of events
that you can check out that's
going to be over on our website
WCNC Comm and of course on the
WCNC Charlotte mobile app as well.
So a lot going on this weekend,
a lot for people to get into.
I know where I'll be starting.
Then Larry
of course at the House of Africa
right there on Thomas Ave.
right off Central Ave.
Good thing is you can get
out there and go walk there.
Yes, several other shops
around there and restaurant
music a little bit if you like to.
They invite everybody to totally participate.
And Kia said it looked like a museum.
But you said you can buy
everything, everything
in there. Know when you want.
It's literally, it's almost overwhelming.
You go wow, he can you have
this much in one giant room
and several rooms in there.
But is it's really worth it.
And say hello to Pat Pap is a good pet.
This is the perk
of getting off at like 1130. Yeah.
So like have a full day almost.
And of course the ADA Jenkins
Center doing amazing work.
We've done so many stories on them.
Such a special.
Every community is celebrating Juneteenth.
I I I think my first Juneteenth
event I ever went to was
probably 20 something years ago.
And at the time it just was not
celebrated in many ways in many
communities across the country.
And I remember thinking why don't
more people know about this and
and and and why aren't more people
doing something more about this
And then several years ago it's
it sort of picked up steam and I
felt like became something that
that more people were talking
about rightfully so and so and now.
Actual holiday,
right. I mean, I think we kind of
lose it in translation sometimes that
this just became a federal holiday.
I mean, what was this two
years or two years ago? Yeah.
So this is the only second celebration,
and I really do. I think this year
the awareness is more than ever.
And it is something that's,
it's familyfriendly,
open to anybody, come by and learn,
learn about the cultures.
That's a great thing when you
think of the kind of neck for
the the hundred countries there,
it's all representative right there.
On Thomas Ave.
here short and all across
the Carolina we should add
how we usually read your comments is
not working on our computers interfaces.
But please keep commenting below
and let us know how you're going
to be celebrating this weekend,
what events you're going to be going to.
Someone may say oh.
Hey, I didn't know about that a bit,
but of course everything that Kia
talked about is going to be on
our website to WC and c.com if you
are looking for celebrations to
go to over the weekend as well. In
the meantime, have a great weekend,
enjoy Juneteenth, Happy Father's Day,
all devs out there and then we'll
see you back here next week.
See you then. Bye everybody.