LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) – Lake Charles residents will have two opportunities to celebrate Juneteenth on Friday, June 19, with festivals happening downtown and at the Lake Charles Event Center.
Faye Brown Blackwell Juneteenth Festival – Downtown Lake Charles
The Faye Brown Blackwell Juneteenth Festival, hosted by 104.9 KZWA-FM, will take over downtown Lake Charles from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Organizers say the festival will feature free activities, business spotlights, a beer and wine garden and a Kids Zone.
Attendees can also expect opportunities to shop from local artists, visit food trucks and support downtown businesses as the event highlights “liberation, renewal, and community†and shines a spotlight on local culture.
Levert Blount, a KZWA 104.9 FM radio host, said the downtown setting gives people plenty of places to stop in throughout the day.
“You can stop by the spoke post, pop in to Luna if you're hungry a little bit, stop by Smitty's and grab you something as well,†Blount said. “It's going to have so many things for everyone. We just want people to come out, have a good time, and celebrate the first time in American history that everyone was free.â€
Blount also emphasized the broader meaning of Juneteenth celebrations and what they can represent for communities.
“I do believe that events like the Juneteenth festival are important for communities and cities and states across the country because it shows that despite our differences or polarization and politics, we are still one people. And unity? That's what we want in this country. We all want to be one.â€
The festival is named after Faye Brown Blackwell, whom organizers describe as a Lake Charles trailblazer and community leader. Blackwell founded KZWA in 1987 and was the first Black woman in Louisiana to own a radio station, according to organizers.
Juneteenth Freedom Festival Family Day & Concert – Lake Charles Event Center
Just down the road, the Voices of Freedom Collective Foundation will host its Juneteenth Freedom Festival Family Day & Concert beginning at 12 p.m. at the Lake Charles Event Center, located at 900 Lakeshore Drive.
Organizers describe the event as a celebration of culture featuring shopping and crafts, live entertainment, outdoor games, inspirational speakers and a sauce piquant cook-off. The festival also includes a showcase of featured artists invited by the Black Heritage Gallery.
A fun fact shared by organizers: sauce piquant — often simply called “sauce†— is a beloved Southern comfort meal made with meats like chicken, sausage or duck cooked down in a gravy.
Local entertainment is also scheduled as part of the Freedom Festival. Organizers say local musician Rusty Metoyer will perform.
Diana Ross, with the Voices of Freedom Collective Foundation, said the event is one she hopes the community will continue to rally behind in the years ahead.
“Over the next two years, I've already got year nine and year 10 planned. I'm hoping to have more people from the community come along to help, to volunteer, and to be a part of something that's bigger than all this,†Ross said.
Ross said the festival connects to the broader mission of the foundation.
“The foundation itself has a much, much larger mission. And so, I'm developing that so our community can come together and help do some of the things that are passionate for me when it comes to healthcare and education,†Ross said.
Both events are scheduled for Friday and are aimed at bringing people together to reflect, connect, and celebrate freedom through local culture, food, and community events.
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