The Owensboro Black Expo is inviting the community to celebrate Juneteenth with an evening of live music, local vendors, and cultural appreciation at English Park on June 21.
The free event will run from 4-10 p.m. at 2 Woodford Avenue. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and enjoy the festivities, which include live entertainment from Bennie J. Smith & Friends Band. Smith, a civil rights activist and former board member of the Kentucky Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression, will dedicate his performance to his late great-uncle, Harry E. Fields.
Fields was a longtime educator, former chairman of the Owensboro Human Relations Commission, and an advocate for equality and understanding. A release from the Owensboro Black Expo noted that he worked to improve police-community relations in the 1970s and was instrumental in preserving Greenwood Cemetery. He also supported Smith’s musical and educational pursuits, even establishing a college scholarship in his name.
Now in its seventh year, Black Expo Treasurer Tiffany Davis said the Juneteenth event has become a staple of the community.
“It’s a great way for the community to get out and come together,” Davis said. “For a number of years, we had it on West 5th Street at Kendall-Perkins Park, and this will be our third year having it at English Park. A lot of people may not know, but they’re still part of the Northwest Neighborhood Alliance, so we just try to keep it on that end of town. The community, they really come out and support.”
Southern Star is serving as the event’s main sponsor. The celebration will also feature booths from groups, including the Daviess County Public Library’s Kentucky Room, which will be sharing genealogy resources. Target, a longtime supporter of the event, will return with youth activities and prize giveaways.
The day will also include a photo station for attendees to capture memories and several door prizes throughout the evening.
The event highlights Black-owned small businesses, local food vendors, and nonprofit organizations. Davis said that last year saw 42 vendors participate, including Jamaican Yard Vibes, Jay’s Good Grub, and Crowe’s Nest.
“As far as the vendors and exhibitors, we kind of focus on local businesses; we try to get them to come out,” she said.
Organizations such as the NAACP, Nonviolent Owensboro, and Owensboro Health have participated in past years, with Owensboro Health often bringing its mobile unit to provide health resources and information.
Davis emphasized that the event is open to everyone.
“We just ask for everybody to come out. You know, it’s not just for Black people or people of color, it’s for everybody,” she said. “Bringing the community together. And, you know, you’d be surprised, a lot of people don’t even know about the West End area. That’s why we always want to keep it in that central location. Just bringing people out and listening to music and just enjoying themselves.”
Vendor and exhibitor registration has been extended to June 10. Those interested can sign up online at tinyurl.com/2025OBE. The $25 fee requires participants to bring their own setup.
For more information, contact Dominique Maddox at 270-320-2237 or email [email protected].
Check out was real simple, can't wait for the tote bag