image

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Thousands gathered in Terre Haute to celebrate Juneteenth as part of Terre Haute Day.

The outside of the Booker T. Washington Center was filled with fun activities. Terre Haute Day has grown exponentially since the first one back in 2020. Co-founder Courtney Chipol says it gives everyone an opportunity to come together.

“That’s what it’s all about,” Chipol said. “It’s about unity and community, so if you look around, it is not just the black community that is here supporting. It is all of Terre Haute coming together because it’s going to take all of us together to find solutions and break through barriers, so that’s what we are here to do and I feel like we’ve been successful the last five years bringing individuals together.”

The festivities included 3v3 basketball, food, entertainment, and a black business expo. Vigo County coroner Dr. Janie Myers says people from outside the community are beginning to take notice.

“There’s some businesses out here that I didn’t even know we had,” Myers said. “There’s some people that actually came from Atlanta because they heard about it, so I’d like to get that excitement and get the community involved. Terre Haute is doing so many great things lately and I am so happy for the fact that we can all come together as a family and support each other because this is what it’s about.”

There was also a “Pitch Black” competition where local black business owners got to pitch their brands. The winner was Terre Haute native Tyree Cuffle. He says the event makes him proud to be a Hautean.

“It’s great,” Cuffle said. “It’s amazing to see the community out here, we got food, we got a lot of other businesses and I’m just happy to be here, happy to be a part of it and I’m just blessed to be a part of the Terre Haute community and to be able to say I have a business here and I’m from here.”

The event sent a great message of unity as everyone prepares for Juneteenth on June 19.