Union City, Tenn.— The Weakley County Reconciliation Project (WCRP) and
Discovery Park of America in Union City are co-hosting a free Juneteenth celebration at
Discovery Park on Saturday, June 17, 2023, from 3-7 p.m. Entrance for the free event will be through the
Train Depot gate in the lower south parking lot.
Families from throughout the region will gather for an afternoon of food, fellowship and fun with a focus
on the celebration of Black American freedom. More than 15 Black-owned, small-business vendors and
local food trucks will be on hand, and a variety of activities are planned for all ages.
Entertainment on Discovery Park’s new Total Tech Solutions stage will be provided by artists such as
saxophonist J-Wes Walker Crossfire Music of Covington, Moe Hayslett, also of Covington, and Jalen
Ware of TRuSTORY Worship. Ripley native and Memphis resident, Katrina Anderson, will be the
headline performer. Jessica Currie of J Poetry will bring some powerful prose to the event, while Craig
Clay of Lake County will provide the keynote address.
In addition to the afternoon’s Juneteenth program, Discovery Park has put together a slate of speakers and
activities for visitors to the museum earlier in the day with the theme, “Looking Back, Moving Forward:
The History of Juneteenth and Why We Celebrate Today.”
At 11 a.m. in the Tennessee Room, Lane College’s vice president for academic affairs, Rev. Daryll
Coleman, will provide a keynote address. Following Rev. Coleman will be vocalist Brenda Davis
accompanied by Kaye Hillsman with an educational performance highlighting the origins of spirituals,
religious songs associated with Black Christians primarily in the South. A traditional “Jubilee Feast,” an
array of foods with cultural significance dating back hundreds of years, will also be on display for
visitors. Guest readers from Discovery Park will gather at 1:30 p.m. in the Tennessee Room for a
children’s story time where they will read four books about Juneteenth aloud.
Discovery Park’s activities in the museum are included with park admission or membership, while the
afternoon’s Juneteenth program is provided for free.
Discovery Park of America is located at 830 Everett Blvd. in Union City. For more information, visit the
Weakley County Reconciliation Project on Facebook or the calendar at discoveryparkofamerica.com.
Photo: Statue of President Abraham Lincoln at Discovery Park.