Juneteenth Jubilee to celebrate the ’70s with funk, soul, gospel and roller skating

The 2023 Fayetteville Juneteenth Jubilee, set for June 17 and 18 in Festival Park downtown, will celebrate Black history with a 1970s Throwback theme, the Cool Spring Downtown District announced on Monday.

“One of the most significant eras in Black America was the ’70s, during which there was a veritable explosion of cultural and political activity,” Ashanti Bennett, the Downtown District’s director of special projects, said in a news release. “In the post-civil rights movement era of the 1960s, the ’70s produced a new era showcasing the Black experience, pride, and joy in mainstream art, fashion, film, television, and music that continues to have a powerful impact on contemporary culture to this day.”

This will be Fayetteville’s second Juneteenth Jubilee. Here is what people can look forward to this year:

’70s funk, soul and gospel music

The first day of the celebration, a Saturday, will have ’70s funk and soul music, and Sunday will highlight gospel and soul performances, the news release says.

Both days are to include local and nationally touring acts. The headlining performers will be announced later this month.

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New at the Jubilee: Roller skating and a Black history trolley

The Jubilee will feature an outdoor roller-skating rink where everyone is invited to “pull up their socks and lace up their roller skates for an Old School Skate Jam,” the release says. Skates will be provided.

Also, the Downtown District’s "Can-Do Coldwell Trolley will morph into the ‘Can You Dig It Trolley’ for an educational tour focused on Black Fayetteville in the 1970s, curated in partnership with local historians,” the announcement says.

Games, art, photography, food trucks and family entertainment

The festival will have a Juneteenth Joyscape community mural and a photo exhibition, “Homegrown: A Photo Exhibit Celebrating Fayetteville Leadership and Community Contributors Born or Excelling in the 1970s.”

For family fun, “Bounce houses and game tables will be on hand in case attendees want to spark a friendly game of Spades, Dominoes, or Uno or even perhaps a Twister challenge,” the news release says.

Guests can also look forward to food trucks, vendors, artists and artisans, games and other entertainment.

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Put on your running shoes for the Juneteenth Celebration 5K

The Jubilee again will have a 5K race. It’s scheduled for 7:30 a.m. June 17.

The course is described as a “nice and mostly straight route.” Early registration is $30. Runners can get more information from runsignup.com.

How to be a sponsor, vendor, performer or volunteer at the Juneteenth Jubilee

Sponsorship opportunities are available for the Juneteenth Jubilee. Those interested can learn more by contacting Bianca Shoneman, the president and CEO of the Cool Spring Downtown District, at [email protected].

People who would like to be a vendor, performer, or volunteer at the Jubilee can find links to apply at the Downtown District’s website, visitdowntownfayetteville.com.

Senior North Carolina reporter Paul Woolverton can be reached at 910-261-4710 and [email protected].

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville 2023 Juneteeth Jubilee set for June 17-18, have 70s theme