On Saturday, June 18th, the streets around the water fountain on North Lanier Avenue will be filled with children and families of all ages celebrating Juneteenth 2022. An afternoon filled with live entertainment, face painting, children’s games, storytelling, food, and crafts vendors, and local non-profit agencies will be on hand to celebrate education, history, self-improvement, and equality for all people as ratified by the abolishment of slavery in the Thirteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Fireworks will follow at dusk on the former Lanett Mill parking lot. The City of Lanett is this year’s host for the street festival. Local sponsors underwrite Juneteenth expenses, and the activities are free.
Approximately 12 years ago, the Greater Valley Juneteenth Committee was founded at the Goodsell United Methodist Church. Annually, a group of volunteers come together to provide a series of educational and celebratory activities at local schools and in the community to commemorate Juneteenth. The 2022 Juneteenth activities included an essay contest for junior and senior high school students, Chick Fil A Day, Gospel Fest, Street Festival, and a local Farmer’s Market. Essay contest winners will receive cash prize awards at the festival. The Farmer’s Market returns to the parking lot of the West Point Depot on the second Saturday of each month beginning in July through November.
Lanett High School graduate and founder of The Reed Foundation, Cameron Reed, comes home to emcee Juneteenth 2022. Cameron is the Chicago Bear’s professional football team Equipment Administrator. Face painter, Laurel Alford from Newman Georgia, will be available to transform children’s faces to match their imagination as princesses, tigers, monsters, flowers, and more. A fun obstacle course and gigantic slide provided by King Jumpers will be on site. Oral historian, Felecia Moore will present her “Red School” book in mid-afternoon. Ms. Moore is an Archive Specialist at Lagrange College. The Jazzy Magnolias and Royal Diamonds dance groups will also perform.
LifeSouth Blood Mobile will be at the festival to take blood to support local hospital needs. This year’s music genres include hip hop, gospel, rap, and rhythm and blues along with disc jockey “Double T.” Gospel artists include ten-year-old Elijah Vines, and the Chosen artists including Generation choir from Lafayette. Jay B, from Biloxi, Mississippi, will perform Christian hip hop.
At 6:00 pm, featured artist, Mello Oowee, a graduate of Lanett High School, will bring Hip-Hop and R&B to the stage. Mello’s music is inspired by his mom and his real-life situations. Mello, like many youths, started singing in church at a young age. He recently signed a recording contract with Authentic Empire based out of Atlanta, Georgia, and will release his first album this year. Mello’s music can be found on YOUTUBE, Apple, Spotify, and other streaming platforms. Mello gives back to the community and is a great role model for kids.
The 2022 Juneteenth sponsors are the City of Lanett, KIA, Capital City Bank, West Point Development Authority, EAMC Lanier, Givorn’s Food, Sewing Machine Company, Kenny Knox, Johnson, Caldwell McCoy, Chattahoochee Valley Credit Unio, and Vines Funeral Home.
For additional information about Juneteenth 2022 contact Carmen McCoy at 706-501-9069 or Trent McCants at 705-518-6650.
