With Juneteenth just days away, the Nashville Predators are inviting all of SMASHVILLE to join in the celebration this weekend.
A contraction of "June" and "Nineteenth," the federal holiday celebrates the date when slaves in Galveston, Texas were finally freed after the arrival of federal troops in 1865 - two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and about two months after the end of the Civil War.
This year, in addition to spotlighting a number of celebrations around Middle Tennessee, the Preds are partnering with their cross-Broadway neighbors at the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) to throw an all-day Juneteenth block party in the heart of Music City.
The party - set to kick off Sunday at 12 p.m. on Broadway between Fifth and Sixth Avenues - will be the first Juneteenth celebration of its kind in downtown Nashville.
"This is something really historic that's celebrating Juneteenth in a really big way in our city and downtown since it became a national holiday," NMAAM Director of Marketing & Communications Candice Jones said. "We're so grateful for the partnership with the Nashville Predators and Bridgestone Arena who really came in as true partners to help us execute this and make this event the best it can possibly be for the people of Nashville."
Of course, it wouldn't be a Nashville party without plenty of good music, and the Preds' friends at the NMAAM have an all-star roster lined up to take the stage Sunday.
From hip hop icons like Doug E. Fresh and Young Buck to rising country prospect Willie Jones, there's sure to be something for everyone at the block party.
"We really tried to make sure we incorporated Nashville's impact on music into this block party and we really want to show that love, especially this year celebrating 50 years of hip hop," she said. "So a lot of the acts that you'll see at the block party this year are going to be hip hop artists, but we're also tying in some country music there too."
In addition to a great soundtrack, Sunday's celebration will feature food and drink from local favorites and Black-owned businesses. To be certain, every Nashvillian - regardless of ethnicity or background - is welcome to join the party.
"The Black community has always celebrated Juneteenth, it's something that's super important to our community and it represents freedom for us," Jones said. "I think since it's become a national holiday, there is more of a spotlight on Juneteenth… And being able to welcome people in to celebrate with us is something that's really amazing and something that I definitely don't take for granted."
Click here for more information about the block party and additional Juneteenth celebrations happening around Middle Tennessee this weekend.
