Juneteenth festival in the works

During Tuesday’s Creston Parks and Recreation meeting, community members Ashley Downing and Amanda McVann proposed a Creston Juneteenth Freedom Festival this year.

Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, is a federal holiday commemorating the freedom of enslaved African Americans, specifically held on the anniversary of General Order No. 3 in Texas, the last state to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation.

The idea for the freedom festival first came to McVann when celebrating Black History month.

“It came from wanting to further expand what we did for Black History month and carry that energy over,” McVann said. “There were a lot of fun ideas we had for Black History month that hadn’t come to fruition yet, and I was like, man, what if we could do it again? The idea of doing it on Juneteenth I think was [Ashley’s] idea more than it was even my idea, so I love that we were able to collaborate on that and really see how we could continue to uplift the Black community here in Creston and also regionally with Union County.”

The proposed freedom festival could include a barbecue cook-off, live music, children’s activities and fireworks, as well as a dedicated Juneteenth service at Salem Lutheran Church.

“We’re looking at doing a family friendly event,” Downing said. “We want to have bounce houses, face-painting. I’ve talked to Brandon Vonk about possibly doing fireworks depending on what our funds look like. We’ve also discussed doing a sermon in the morning, kind of geared towards Juneteenth subject, and then having live music and a beer garden.”

The plan is to host the festival on Sunday, June 18 in McKinley park. The board mentioned this was also Father’s Day, but Downing and McVann hope that will bring more people.

The board also questioned the feasibility of a beer garden. Downing and McVann hope working with Katie Davidson and Hot Air Brewery will help.

“I’ve talked with Katie Davidson and we would transfer the license,” Downing said. “We would have to apply through the state to say that we are going to move the license to the park, and then served that way, there’s some restrictions that the state has. There has to be access to public restrooms and seating. I think for Creston population, it’s like 20 seats available because it’s a percentage of the population.”

In addition, a beer garden would be limited to cans and bottles and need fencing to partition it from the rest of the festival. The board suggested doing a bring-your-own-beer instead. However, with the success of Hot Air Brewing’s Good Trouble, a pale ale made in honor of Black History Month, is a large part of the want to work with the brewery.

McVann said the success of the activities in Creston for Black History Month has helped to encourage this event.

“There’s been a push these last three years that I continue to amplify a lot of marginalized voices in the community,” McVann said. “I think through the Human Rights Coalition and through intentional listening and intentional and ethnic events in the community, we’re trying to lift those voices that are kind of pushing those margins and aren’t feeling fully part of the collective narrative and collective story that is Creston, and so we just want to continue to push forward, not only that diversity matters, but that diversity isn’t something outside that we’re trying to bring here, it’s uplifting what’s already existing here.”

The Creston Juneteenth Freedom Festival will be discussed at the next parks and recreation meeting, at 5:30 p.m. April 25 in the Restored Depot.

Anyone interested in volunteering for the freedom festival is encouraged to contact Downing or McVann. A Facebook page titled “Creston Juneteenth Freedom Festival” will be up shortly. There, information and volunteer sign-up sheets can be found.

“I‘m hoping to bring in the arts community that’s thriving here in Creston, but also people maybe want to expand their creative opportunities, learn more about that and that would be a great opportunity to show up for that as well,” McVann said. “Educational opportunities, doing things with the library, really having an opportunity to see what your circle of serving looks like, because it’s not going to unilaterally look like the same thing. But entertaining, helping us when it comes to serving and guiding people where the events are going to be located, and just kind of participating as well and educating yourself on the holiday.”

Downing and McVann want to encourage everyone to celebrate the holiday.

“This is not a celebration that is Black exclusive, we are celebrating everybody, the liberation of all people,” McVann said. “It’s a fight that is still ongoing as the struggles continue, so show up and show out!”