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8th of August Emancipation Day Celebration
August 4 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Free
Celebrate Emancipation Day & Freedom with us!
The Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County and the Hopkinsville Human Rights Commission invite you to celebrate the Eighth of August on Sunday, August 4, 2024 from 1:00-4:00pm at the Pennyroyal Area Museum.* This year will be the fourth year that the organizations have partnered to bring this celebration to the community.
Historically, portions of western Kentucky and central Tennessee have centered annual homecomings and celebrations of emancipation around the Eighth of August. Although the origins as to why this date was chosen vary, festivities have been held around this date since the late 1800s. Community celebrations in the region often included the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, a well-known speaker, a parade, and baseball games.
The afternoon will feature an official proclamation honoring Emancipation Day, special historic readings, activities for children, food trucks, genealogy information, and more. Food trucks, vendors, and activities include the following:
- G’s BBQ
- DJ’s Homemade Lemonade
- Janae’s Italian Ice
- Big Fellaz
- Different Strokes canvas painting
- Greek Yard Show
- Christian County Health Department mobile testing unit
- League of Women Voters voter registration
- Storytime featuring children’s books by bell hooks
- Music, games, and more!
Supper Club, too!
The Museum and HRC continue their celebration of the Eighth of August with their next meeting of the Supper Club on Thursday, August 8 at 6pm. This month, the group will gather at Pioneers Memorial Complex to enjoy barbecue, burgoo, and sweet tea prepared by the men’s civic organization. The Pioneers will share about their history, the work they do to support the community, and their catering operation. Tickets are available online or at the Pennyroyal Area Museum.
For more information, call the Museum (270-887-4270) or the Human Rights Commission (270-887-4010).
*East 9th Street between Liberty and Virginia streets and Liberty Street between 9th & 10th streets will be closed during the event.