A Juneteenth celebration at Roscoe Smith Park (formerly North Side Park) has been given permission to go on after the promoters satisfied requirements stated by city officials at the Hope City Board meeting this week.

Hope Parks Superintendent Summer Chamber told swark.today in an email, "The event has been cleared to proceed this weekend. Payment and proof of insurance were submitted yesterday morning. All activities are expected to take place as scheduled, in accordance with the plans discussed at the board meeting.”

In the meeting, City Manager J.R. Wilson said he and other city staff were taken by surprise by the plan to extend the event into the evening and include a performance by Ladi Phat. After a 45-minute discussion a motion passed for the event to continue but to end at or around 8:00 p.m. as long as the promoters of the event submitted proper paperwork in time.

A poster with the schedule for the event, which follows the Juneteenth Parade to take place Saturday morning can be seen below.