JONESBORO, Ark. – KLEK’s 5th annual Juneteenth in Jonesboro is going to be big and historic this year. From the first ever Juneteenth parade to the first ever fireworks display, we have many plans in store for you to help us celebrate freedom!
The past two years, we held Juneteenth virtually and weren’t able to have our typical community celebration. However, during that time, history was made across the country when lawmakers officially made Juneteenth a national holiday. Our Juneteenth in Jonesboro celebration will be a 4-day event beginning on Thursday, June 16 and going through the official Juneteenth holiday on Sunday, June 19. All events are FREE! A full detailed list of events and performances as well as more information is at klekfm.org/Juneteenth.
· Thursday, June 16 – Juneteenth Kickoff Community Meet & Greet and Black Business Pop Up at Legends BBQ Smokehouse and Lounge, 1025 W. Johnson Ave. 6 P.M.-9 P.M.
· Friday, June 17 – Community Worship Service and Sweet Potato Pie Baking Contest at Fisher Steet Church of God In Christ International, 125 N. Fisher St. 7 P.M.-9 P.M.
· Saturday, June 18 – Juneteenth Parade through Downtown Jonesboro hosted by KAIT’s Jurnee Taylor and community leader Rev. Dr. Ray Scales starting at the E. Boone Watson Center, 1005 Logan Ave. Participants to meet at 9:30 A.M. The parade starts at 11 A.M.
· Saturday, June 18 – Red Cross Sickle Cell Awareness Blood Drive at Parker Park Community Center, 1506 N. Church St. 12:30 P.M.-5:30 P.M.
· Saturday, June 18 – Juneteenth in Jonesboro Community Fair & Fireworks Display at University Heights Lions Club Park, 5 ½ N. Bridge St. 2 P.M. – sunset.
· Sunday, June 19 – Official Juneteenth Proclamation by Mayor Harold Copenhaver (Press Opportunity) at KLEK Studios, 1411 Franklin St. 3 P.M.-4 P.M.
About KLEK’s Juneteenth in Jonesboro: KLEK began celebrating Juneteenth in Jonesboro the Saturday before the unofficial holiday on June 16, 2017 at University Heights Lions Club Park. KLEK has held it every year since then to commemorate Juneteenth, celebrating the final day African-Americans were enslaved thanks to President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. However, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865 that Union Soldiers landed at Galveston, TX with the news of the enslaved people’s freedom and end of the Civil War. In 2021, President Joe Biden signed legislation officially making Juneteenth a national holiday to commemorate the occasion and to celebrate freedom for all Americans.
About KLEK 102.5 FM: Launched in 2015, KLEK-LP 102.5 FM is Jonesboro’s first and only minority community radio station to serve Jonesboro, AR and broadcasting at 100 watts. Licensed by The Voice of Arkansas Minority Advocacy Council, KLEK is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in Arkansas. KLEK plays a variety of urban adult contemporary music as well as air public affairs programming. KLEK is also available world-wide through its website, KLEKfm.org, social media (@klekfm), and streaming through the KLEK app in the Google Play and Apple App stores as well as via TuneIn app.
Press Release – KLEK
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