The Black Expo’s Juneteenth Celebration found its new home at English Park last year, and they are excited to bring the party back to the west side park on Saturday, June 15.
At English Park, they said they are looking forward to utilizing every part of the park with vendors, music, giveaways, and more. President Dominique Maddox said the grounds are perfect for the annual event.
“It is beautiful. Our riverfront, the bridge, just everything about it,” Maddox said. “It was different but in a good and very positive way. This is a great size, and the parking was amazing. Nobody had to walk long distances to get into it.”
Maddox and Board Member Tiffany Davis noted that the group has continually grown the annual event over the years. Starting in 2018, they were working on a small scale, but they hoped to have a large event like the one they eventually grew into.
“Even if we had to start on the smaller scale because of resources and the newness of it, we always said the vision was for it to grow yearly,” he said. “We have successfully grown this every year, even through a pandemic; it’s been amazing..”
With the growth, both have said there is more to do this year. With more vendors this year, they are also welcoming the Owensboro Art Guild to provide painting activities for the youth.
This year, she said, the event is coming together smoother than ever, mainly due to the help of the community supporting it. They say this year, they hope to have more vendors and something for everyone to enjoy.
Other vendors include Owensboro Health, Owensboro Fire Department, and longtime partner Target.
“It would not be possible without community support from the community at large, corporate sponsorships, and companies that want to contribute to see growth. It all plays a factor,” Maddox said.
Davis said that is what Juneteenth is at its core. The holiday celebrates the end of slavery throughout the nation, and Davis said that fact should bring us together as a group. They plan to do that through the music acts returning this year.
With The Gospel Troops from Bowling Green, BG3 Band from Evansville, and NuCorp from Columbus, Ohio, Davis said music is a universal connector.
“It’s an occasion where we can all come together,” Davis said. “We talked to many people at the Multicultural Festival, and they said they liked Gospel music. This event is to draw people from different backgrounds. The main thing the Expo has stressed throughout the years is that it’s for everybody. It’s not just for black people; It’s for everybody.”
The organization is still accepting applications for vendors. To apply as a vendor, click here. The deadline to apply is June 1.
