The Juneteenth-Quad-City-Homecoming held last weekend in Festus and Crystal City was a hit, organizers said.
The second-annual event included a children’s fishing event on June 17 at Larry G. Crites Memorial Park in Festus, a party that night at the Mississippi River Eagles facility in Crystal City and a worship service at Trinity Mount Carmel of Jefferson County Church in Festus on June 18, followed by a picnic that day at South Adams Park in Festus.
Quad City +, the entity that organizes the Juneteenth-Quad-City-Homecoming activities, consists of people and nonprofit groups from Crystal City, De Soto, Festus, Herculaneum and Pevely, as well as surrounding areas.
Ernest Brown, one of the event organizers, said the weekend’s activities were held not only to celebrate Juneteenth, but also to serve as a homecoming to bring old friends back to the area.
“It went well,” Brown said. “They had a very good time at all of the events.
“At the Eagles, they had a little over 100 people. There was a DJ. It was a lot of fun.
“Sunday, we had around 60 people show up at Trinity Mount Carmel Church. The picnic went well. We provided hamburgers and hot dogs for free. People brought other meats we barbecued for them.”
Periodic rain on Sunday may have kept some people away from the picnic, but those who attended enjoyed it, Brown said.
“After the rain, we had games for the kids,” he said.
Brown said a washers tournament was planned, but it was canceled due to the rain.
The free children’s fishing event did not draw as well as the other events, but participants appreciated it, Brown said.
“We had a few kids show up, and we gave out fishing poles donated by Walmart,” he said. “Giving Something Back to the Community (a Jefferson County nonprofit group) donated 10 $10 certificates for Walmart. We also gave those out to the kids.”
Brown said he has heard positive comments about the Juneteenth weekend activities.
“Everybody’s been calling me saying they really enjoyed it,” he said. “I enjoyed it, as well. We intend for it to continue.”
According to the History Channel website, Juneteenth, which became an official national holiday on June 17, 2021, commemorates the date in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed.
Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth an official holiday in 1979.