LOUISVILLE, Ky. — On this Juneteenth, Wally Weston is cooking with fire. The Chicago-born man and longtime Louisville resident prefers to spend this holiday in the community.
“Only the correct thing to do is to take care of those who can’t take care of themselves,” Weston said.
For the last eight years or so Weston says he’s been hosting a Juneteenth cookout, and this is the first year he’s fired up at Shawnee Park.
“You see the beautiful chicken, ham, corn off the cob,” Weston said, giving a tour of the menu.
The grill, which is longer than a table, is loaded, and some food has been donated by friends who work in the restaurant industry.
Weston says the guest list includes everyone because on Juneteenth he likes to cook for anyone who might not have a family to spend the holiday with. “And for those who don’t have a family, we are here as your family and we bring love and all the positive vibes,” Weston said.
Good vibes keep coming because as Weston handles the grill under a park shelter, friends and family members are bagging up fresh produce for anyone who wants to take it home. There are greens, cabbage, apples and pears and cartons of eggs.
“We are cooking. We are grilling good food, as you can see right here. We are giving away produce, we’ve got women’s supplies, we have Covid tests, and, as you also see, we have roses for the ladies,” he explained.
And certainly, the meal or anything else is on the house. “So we are making it a good time for everyone to come out and have a good experience. You don’t have to pay no money. Everything is free on us,” Weston said.
