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Sebring Juneteenth Festival Set For This Saturday

By Bill Rettew Jr. | Highlands Today

Published: June 17, 2008

SEBRING — The 9th Annual Sebring Juneteenth Festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., June 21, in the Washington Heights Neighborhood, on Lemon Street, from Railroad Street to Martin Luther King Boulevard.

The family-fun multicultural block party will feature music, vendors and entertainment.
Tim McGahee, pastor of Bountiful Blessings Church of God, is ready for the day-long celebration.
"Not only does it talk about the issue, but Juneteenth brings the community together," said McGahee. "It brings people of different races and cultures together, which is very important.

"It's not something government can do, only communities can do that."

Juneteenth is also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. Twenty six states observe June 19 as an annual holiday or holiday observance.

The holiday marks the announcement of abolition of slavery in Texas. Since 1980, Juneteenth has been an official state holiday in Texas. The Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves and was issued on Sept. 22, 1862, but Texas slaves did not learn about their freedom until several months later.

Official Sebring Juneteenth T-shirts will be available. Representatives from health, government and civic organizations will chat with visitors and hand out literature.

The event was organized by the Florida Sportsmen Association/New Washington Heights Concerned Citizens, Inc.

Robert Saffold, a Washington Heights Concerned Citizens and event organizer, encouraged the entire community to visit the area and view the new stereoscopes project. Finishing touches were recently placed on the $1.3 million reconstruction and beautification of the neighborhood.

"This is a multi-cultural event – and not just for black people," said Saffold. "Everyone is invited."
Saffold hopes to post banners on the new light posts that will welcome visitors to the neighborhood.

To learn more about the banner program, or for the event as a vendor or visitor, call Robert Saffold, at 381-5166.

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