The Owensboro Black Expo switched locations for this year’s Juneteenth Celebration and was met with positive feedback and experience from guests throughout Saturday evening.
President Dominique Maddox said celebrating Juneteenth on the River at English Park worked out even though they had to make the change. She said that being at English Park allowed the community to spread throughout the grounds.
The celebration had to move due to Kendall-Perkins Park being under renovation; nonetheless, Maddox said they could enjoy its space.
“The shape of this park really lends itself and the backdrop of the river is great,” Maddox said. “This really is an underutilized park, but the energy and community was very positive when we moved.”
The celebration began at 4 p.m. and had a vendors’ village where people were selling goods and crafts, promoting their organizations and a sound stage with live performances.
Live entertainment included performances from local artists No Limits, Londun Randolph and Evansville band BG3.
Looking out at the crowd, Maddox said the togetherness is the purpose of Juneteenth.
“When you read those old accounts out of Texas and how they initially celebrated, it was like it felt like family to them, and that’s what we want it to feel like. Just like a family reunion,” Maddox said.
She said she was glad to see people of all ages and backgrounds coming together to celebrate Juneteenth. Specifically, she noted she met someone who was invited by a friend who had been going through a rough week, and being at the celebration cleared their mind.
“That’s what we got to do; we have got to love on each other. We have more things in common than we have different. So let’s celebrate, and that’s what we’re going to do and what they are all doing,” she said.
Maddox said she’s proud that OBE has provided the event free of charge for the community for the last six years, and she’s excited this year that the support has grown to the point Boardwalk Pipeline and Southern Star sponsor the celebrations.
Maddox said when they started in 2018, there weren’t any Juneteenth celebrations in the tri-state area. She said she’s happy to not only be able to put on an event in Owensboro but to help the surrounding area develop its own Juneteenth events.
