2023 Clarksville Juneteenth Block Party
Video by Cultured Canon
Now, in his third year, the Clarksville Juneteenth block party is one of the biggest summer events in Clarkesville to date. What started as a semi-small summer celebration has turned into a huge event where community members, businesses, organizations artists, performers, and more are able to represent the diverse black culture here in Clarksville Tennessee.
Nationally, Juneteenth celebrates the day that the final US slaves were set free. While many people in our area celebrate August 8, which is the Tennessee-Kentucky freedom day, we chose not to trample on anyone’s current events and instead add additional black celebrations to the community.
Each year we have our event in the heart of the city at the downtown Commons. This is important to us because it helps to ensure that the Clarksville Juneteenth Block party is not written off as some segregated, one off event, but instead just as important, immersive, and as large as any other event happening in the community. Being in the heart of downtown on a prominent Saturday morning and afternoon, we are able to allow our attendees to also enjoy the beauties of the city and patron downtown stores and restaurant. We truly feel that our event brings a little extra for all involved.
Some of the features you can experience at the Clarksville Juneteenth block party are local vendors, artists and performers, food trucks, interactive art experiences, and family friendly fun. We really try to make this event feel like a cookout and feel like family. Everyone in the community is welcome and we really have a great mixed and supportive crowd that comes out each year.
This year’s event included over 70 businesses and organizations. From our post event surveys we learned that vendors averaged $1,327 in profit at the Block Party. This year, in an effort to elevate the block party vendor experience we held a vendor booth competition. Our first place winner was award free booth space next year, professional marketing assistance, sponsorship opportunities and more valued at $1000.
You can find more information about the Clarksvill Juneteenth Block, party by visiting the clarksvillejuneteenth.com website. Be on the lookout for early bird vendor applications, February 2024.
