As organizers finalize their plans for the 2023 Juneteenth-Quad-City Homecoming in Crystal City and Festus, they want to stress the homecoming portion of the event.
The festivities for the second-annual event include a gathering from 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday, June 17, at the Mississippi River Eagles facility, 330 Bailey Road, in Crystal City and another one starting at 11 a.m. and running for much of the rest of day on Sunday, June 18, starting at Trinity Mount Carmel Church of Jefferson County, 321 S. Adams St., in Festus and continuing at nearby South Adams Park at the Ronnie Harrington Pavilion.
A free children’s fishing event, sponsored by the Mount Zion Cemetery Board, will be included in the event. It will be held from 8-11 a.m. June 17 at Larry G. Crites Memorial Park along Old Hwy. A, in Festus.
Jean Burks, one of the fishing tournament organizers, said the tournament is for youngsters up to age 12.
“It’s just for fun,” Burks said. “And, we’ll have free doughnuts. There’s no registration. They just show up.”
Ernest Brown, one of the Juneteenth-Quad-City Homecoming organizers, said the idea behind the two-day event is to observe Juneteenth, as well as to revive an old community gathering that used to be held in the area.
“We’re trying to reproduce what people used to do – bring people back home,” Brown said. “We used to have a function like this in Festus where McCullough Park is now. It was something I went to as a child.
“With the (Juneteenth-Quad-City Homecoming), we’re trying to bring people together for a homecoming.”
Quad City +, the group organizing the Juneteenth-Quad-City Homecoming is made up of nonprofit groups and people from Crystal City, De Soto, Festus, Herculaneum and Pevely, as well as surrounding areas.
A $5 admission fee will be charged at the June 17 gathering at the Mississippi River Eagles facility. That event will include refreshments and DJ music.
The June 18 activities are free and include Sunday services by Pastor Donna Evans at Trinity Mount Carmel of Jefferson County Church from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., followed by services and a picnic at South Adams Park.
“On June 18, we’ll be at (South Adams) Park and we’re going to have some games for the kids,” Brown said. “People can bring a barbecue pit and cook their own food.”
He said a washers tournament will be held at approximately 1:30 p.m. at South Adams Park. Entry will be $10 per person or $20 for a team of two.
Brown said event organizers want the celebration to become something people circle on their calendar annually.
“We’re going to try to make it bigger every year,” he said.
For more information about the Juneteenth-Quad-City Homecoming, call 314-766-0055. For more information about the fishing event, visit the Mount Zion Cemetery Group Facebook page.
