COLUMBIA, S.C. — Concerns regarding inclement weather have led to the cancellation of a Juneteenth celebratory event in Columbia.
The president and founder of the South Carolina Juneteenth Freedom Fest, Jamal Bradley, announced online that the parade scheduled for Monday at 10 a.m. is canceled.
"As we approach the 2nd federal observance of Juneteenth as a national holiday, we had hoped to celebrate this historic event with a grand parade in downtown Columbia," Bradley said. "However, the safety and well-being of our participants and the public must come first."
He said that the decision was not made lightly and that organizers tried to find ways to continue the event in some form despite the weather.
"We remain committed to celebrating Juneteenth and its significance to Black history and culture," Bradley said. "We encourage everyone to attend the other events taking place throughout the weekend, such as the community festival, live music, and food vendors."
Weather reports for the week show upper-level low pressure sitting over the Southeast. The result is expected to be many days of rain with a 70% chance of scattered storms on Monday with chances of rain not dropping below that until Saturday.
While the parade has been cancelled, you may want to partake in one of these the Juneteenth celebrations:
- In Irmo. There will be a performance of Gullah Geechee poetry, songs, and heritage by Ron Daise at the Harbison Theatre at 3:30 p.m., followed by a variety of other events at the Prisma Health Amphitheater in the Irmo Community Park at 6:15 p.m.
- Columbia Museum of Art is offering free admission on Monday and a tour of the Tina Williams Brewer: Stories of Grace exhibit featuring quilted items that explore "themes relating to African diasporic history, spirituality, migration and shared heritage." The tour starts at 2 p.m. and will be conducted by Dr. Nancy Tolson, CMA commissioner and USC Assistant Director of African American Studies.
Also, Black Eats Week 803 begins Monday and continues through Sunday, June 25. The event celebrates Black-owned restaurants in the Midlands with drink and dining specials. Participating restaurants include:
- Barcode, 224 O'Neil Court, Columbia 29223
- Legacy Caribbean Bar & Grill, 215 O'Neil Court, Columbia 29223
- Mimsy's, 200 Graces Way, Columbia 29229
- Ms.B's Southern Soul Food, 676 St. Andrews Rd, Columbia 29210
- Sky Bistro Lounge, 1120 Washington St., Columbia 29201
- Tha River Sports Bar & Grill, 2344 Broad River Rd, Columbia 29210