OLEAN, N.Y. — For the ninth year in a row, drumming, music, food and activities will be held in honor of the Juneteenth Celebration from noon to 7 p.m. June 29 at Bethany Lutheran Church at 6 Leo Moss Drive.
The event will be conducted by the African American Center for Cultural Development and is open to the public, said Della Moore, director of the center. The event is held yearly throughout the country in commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States.
“It’s hard to believe that Juneteenth is almost here,” Moore said of the celebration. “Where did the year go? We are so ready.”
Moore said the event promises to be “as exciting as all of the rest … with a great slate of presenters.”
She said vendors will have a variety of “great food” and other items for sale.
“The time I am enlisting the culinary talents of my relatives from Philly to help our great (chef), Lane Mosely,” Moore said. “I can taste it now.”
Moore said other activities will include music by the Blues Ensemble class, which she participates in as a singer. The class is taught at St. Bonaventure University by Terry Bellamy, local blues musician.
She said a new feature this year will be Juneteenth T-shirts which will be available for sale at the celebration. Another new feature are signs to advertise the event.
“I just ordered some new lawn signs … that will have the schedule of events” and placed around Olean, Moore added.
Bellamy said he is “pleased and proud of the group that he has been coaching and teaching at Bonas” to serve as performers for Juneteenth. The musicians will play drums, a base, guitars and a keyboard.
“These are some of the veteran members who have stuck by me and are great,” Bellamy said of the ensemble. “They will perform because I have to leave early.”
As in the past, organizers advise participants to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets to the event so they can better enjoy the festivities. Volunteers are also appreciated to help throughout the day and afterward for clean-up.
The schedule of events and presenters are included in the following list.
Juneteenth Schedule of Events and Presenters
Noon to 12:30 p.m. — Opening Ceremony
12:30 until sold out — Awesomely Delicious Food
1 to 1:45 p.m. — Drum Circle
2 to 2:45 p.m. — Twin Tiers Writers
3 to 3:45 p.m. — Dr. Kevin Watkins
4 to 5:45 p.m. — Blues Ensemble and Open Mic
6 to 6:45 p.m. — John Tait
6:45 to 7 p.m. — Closing Ceremony
The program is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, and administered by the Tri-County Arts Council.
