Juneteenth, a day commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States, wasn’t recognized as a federal holiday until 2021, but that hasn’t stopped over 150 years of celebration.
June Dinner, one of the longest-standing Juneteenth traditions in Arkansas, takes place in the small southeastern town of Wilmar (2020 census data says the population is 395) and dates back to the late 1800s. Attendance estimates vary, but it’s safe to say that crowd numbers are usually in the thousands. A short documentary produced by Arkansas PBS about the celebration, which includes a parade, live music, a car show and a motorcycle burn-out competition amongst other activities, will be screened for free throughout June in Little Rock, Wilmar and Wrightsville. Here are the dates, times and locations:
- Dee Brown Library, CALS Branch Library, Little Rock, Monday, June 10, at 6:30 p.m.
- Rooker Library, CALS Branch Library, Little Rock, Thursday, June 13, at 6:30 p.m.
- Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, Little Rock, Saturday, June 15, at 12:15 p.m.
- Wilmar June Dinner, Wilmar, Sunday, June 16, (screening time to be determined)
- McMath Library, CALS Branch Library, Little Rock, Monday, June 17, at 6:30 p.m.
- Brooks Library, CALS Branch Library, Wrightsville, Tuesday, June 18, at 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
