Juneteenth plans progressing

Plans are well underway for the 142nd annual Juneteenth celebration at Sandy Creek Park June 15-16, according to Dr. Willie Brown, chairperson.

The parade, beginning at 5 p.m. June 16, kicks off the official ceremonies. Theme for the parade is "Looking for greater peace as it will be in Heaven."

Opening ceremonies begin at 6 p.m. with a celebration of cultures, followed by diversity training at 6:30 p.m. The evening will conclude with fireworks at dusk.

The beauty pageant to determine who reigns over the celebration will be held Thursday, June 14, at 6:30 p.m. at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church. For more information on the pageant, call Willie Faye McFarland at 384-2900.

Several activities begin Friday, June 15, including a banquet at 6:30 p.m. at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church.

Saturday, all day, the park will have music, contests, games and prizes, a dunking booth, and vendors selling a variety of goods. Deadline for vendor sign up is June 1.

"Meat in the park" vendors can reserve booths to sell brisket, sausage, chicken, fish, burgers, hot dogs and turkey legs.

The Committee for One reserves the right to sell all beverages, snow cones and ice. Funds raised by the events support local nonprofit groups.

Each year the board selects three groups to benefit from proceeds. In past years, Dr. Brown says they have presented $500 checks to organizations such as The Boys and Girls Club, the Jasper Lakes Area Humane Society, the Ministerial Alliance, CASA, the Jasper Police Department and the Toys for Tots drive.

The Juneteenth Shoot-Out is a basketball competition for teams of four players, to be played as a single elimination, three-on-three tournament June 16-17. Teams can sign up in two divisions: Varsity for ages 29 and under, and Over the Hill for ages 30 plus. All four team members must meet the age requirements for their division. Deadline for team registration is June 13.

The fishing tournament will be held from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. June 16 and has four age divisions: tadpoles are 10 and under, guppies are 11-18, bass are 19-49 and sharks are over 50.

The watermelon eating contest is "for children of all ages" according to the website, and first, second and third place winners will receive ribbons.

For more information and vendor or team registration, visit www.juneteenthjasper.com.