WS Chronicle

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

The 12th annual Triad Juneteenth Festival will take place on Saturday, June 18, from 11 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This year, the festival will be held inside and outside at Wake Forest Innovation Quarter, utilizing Biotech Place and Bailey Park at 575 N. Patterson Ave.  The festival is set in the once thriving and bustling African-American business community of the mid 20th century.

The festival will open with a Black Family Forum at 11 a.m. sponsored by the Pan Hellenic Council. Panelists include: Dr. Dorrance Kennedy, Dr. Manderline Scales, Dr. Kimya Dennis, Mr. Lacy Deberry and Mr. Ray Robinson.  Panelists will discuss the state of the black family from their professional perspectives that include the church, education, criminology, and finances.

A tribute will be held at 12 noon honoring Gospel legends Andrae’ Crouch and Daryl Coley, both who passed away since the last festival.  Musical tributes will also be held to honor the lives of B.B. King, Prince, Natalie Cole and Maurice White of Earth, Wind and Fire.  Performers include the Renaissance Choir, Raymond O’Neal, Deborah Patterson Miles, Curtis Miles, Joe Robinson, Big Ron Hunter, Cinnamon Reggae, Improper French and more. Craftsmen, artists, historical and community organizations will display their wares and provide educational information about a wide range of available resources to enhance and improve our quality of life.  For youth, there will be a fashion show, dance and mime, crafts, face painting, and performances featuring the YMCA BOSS Drummers. Vendors from around the Triad will offer merchandise including jewelry, clothing and food.

Gramercy Research and the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity will sponsor a Health Fair, which will include the Novant Health/WSSU Mobile Health Unit, cooking demonstrations and food tastings, Ask The Doctor sessions, health displays and dancercise.

Food Lion will promote healthy eating with its “Farm Fresh Stand.” Attendees can enjoy samples of fresh fruits and vegetables and attend the cooking demonstrations to learn about table top grilling, making smoothies, crockpot cooking and more.

Wells Fargo will sponsor “The Point,” a financial stability unit, with an array of services for financial coaching education, information and counseling plus a free on-site credit health check.

Kombo the stilt walker will perform with Otesha Creative Arts African Dance Ensemble for the grand finale to close out the festival.

The event is free and open to the public. Food Lion, Inc., Wells Fargo and Wake Forest Innovation Quarter are the festival co-sponsors. Additional sponsors are Kilpatrick Stockton, Novant Health, City of Winston-Salem, Old Salem Museums & Gardens, and Union Baptist Church.

A schedule of activities is posted on www.triadculture.org.

For more information, call 336-757-8556.