SEVIERVILLE — In June, the public is invited to celebrate a special holiday, Juneteenth.
Juneteenth, the newest United States federal holiday to be celebrated annually, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. On Monday, June 19, at 5 p.m. (doors open to the public) the public is invited to join other celebrants at the King Family Library to learn more about African Americans and their influence in Sevier County over the years. Highlighted sessions during the program include a traditional food-tasting event and live music by the Chandler Family Singers!
The schedule of sessions includes:
•5:30-6:30 pm — Local African American Traditional Recipes, Storytelling, and Sample Tasting Menu with Jamesena Miller & Carroll McMahan
• 6:45-7:30 pm — Negro Spiritual & Contemporary Black Gospel Concert by the Chandler Family Singers led by Nicole Hendricks
The Juneteenth program is open to the public but registration is required to partake of the local African American Traditional sample tasting session. Menu items to be sampled during the event include:
To register for the food sample tasting session, call the King Family Library at 865-453-3532 or sign up at the Circulation Desk at the King Family Library, 408 High St., in Sevierville.
In addition to the events at the library, the public is also invited to attend the launch of a new brochure detailing the African American influence on downtown architecture led by Carroll McMahan. If attending this session, meet at the kiosk beside the Dolly Parton statue on the lawn of the Sevier County Courthouse.
Special acknowledgement and appreciation are extended to the Sevier County MLK Celebration Committee, Tennessee State Bank, Mayor Larry Waters, Sevierville Chamber of Commerce, and the King Family Library Rel & Wilma Maples History Center for their generosity and support.
