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The Badin Town Council approved an event permit at Tuesday night’s meeting for the Second Annual West Badin Juneteenth Celebration. The event will be from 12-6 p.m. June 19-20 at the West Badin Park.

Juneteenth is the celebration commemorating the last group of slaves in the United States who were freed. A group of Union soldiers in Galveston, Texas, brought news of the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been issued two years prior by President Abraham Lincoln, on June 19, 1865. The next year was the first official celebration of the day.

This year’s celebration follows last year’s event which garnered higher attendance than expected. Attendance for next Saturday’s event is expected to be even greater, according to organizers.

Parking on the street will be limited at this year’s event, said Mecca Gramling, one of the event’s organizers, who spoke to council members during public comments.

“I have reached out to the churches surrounding (the park) as well as the Isaiah Community Center. We will utilize those parking (places) to keep people from parking on the road,” Gramling said.

Off-duty officers will also be hired to provide security for the event. Badin Police Chief Stephen Smith noted officers are also trained first responders in case of any medical emergencies.

This event will have a short parade announcing the festival’s king and queen, along with food, vendors, music, a dance contest and a basketball tournament. A Black Lives Matter Trap and Paint event will also take place, where participants paint on canvasses while listening to trap music, a Southern sub-genre of hip hop music.