Valdosta State University | 1500 North Patterson Street | Valdosta, Georgia | 31698

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Valdosta, Ga Juneteenth Celebration


[Additional pictures will be added]

Saturday, June 23, 2012, was the 20th annual Juneteenth Celebration in downtown Valdosta, Georgia at the historic Lowndes County Courthouse Square. Many came to support the history of America and to also have fun with family and friends.

Valdosta State University’s (VSU) own NAACP chapter had their own booth set up to allow people to register to vote, and to also play a friendly game of Jeopardy in order to spread light on some exciting facts about our history, in Valdosta and in the entire U.S.A.

There was also a guest speaker, Dr. Shirley Hardin, the director of the African American Studies program at VSU, who spoke on the education of the celebration. Ending with Maya Angelou’s poem Still I Rise, Dr. Hardin's words continued to uplift the audience.

In addition to this experience, there were plenty of events for families and acquaintances to enjoy. Things, such as the Kid’s Corner, the Youth Talent Explosion, and the Gospel Fest, filled the square and graced everyone within it.  Vendors and organizations also filled the square to offer their services and products to everyone who came.

There were also tour rides that took guests and residents down to the Valdosta/Lowndes County museum to learn fun facts, such as famous people who were from Valdosta, Georgia, that contributed in some of the World’s most famous things. One of these people, that many will soon recognize, is James Lord Pierpont. Lord Pierpont was the maker of the song Jingle Bells. After the museum, the tour took the visitors and residents on a trip around Valdosta to see what this town was and has become, and then back to the square for more celebration.

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