Juneteenth Festival lights up Lanett
Published 8:45 am Saturday, June 21, 2025
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LANETT – Juneteenth was celebrated in Lanett on Thursday with music, good food, socializing, a super-fun kids zone and some campaigning for the upcoming municipal election, where a staggering number of 33 candidates have already qualified in Lanett to run for either the city council or the city school board.
The Juneteenth celebration began at 4 p.m. EDT with a welcome from the state emcee for the day, Bishop Winston Fannings. Lanett Council Member Tamalita Autry said the opening prayer and the Lanett High JROTC flag corps presented the colors. Mayor Jamie Heard of Lanett and Mayor Steve Tramell of West Point greeted the crowd and the deejay for the day, “Double T”, played recorded sounds. Performing live was Seth Harden and Friends, Secret Dimension, and No Ego.
Six raffles during the day giving $50 to an adult and $25 to a youth. Some TVs were also awarded in raffles.
Jacky Escobedo painted faces. Ranger Rock Rentals LLC of Auburn brought their tall mobile climbing tower. Nicole Kennedy and Gail Gordon brought over the Jungle Bus from Troup County to promote a love of learning from a young age. Narfunda Ross and Team WHIP had a tent promoting breast cancer awareness.
Adrian Carpenter and Gabriella Jenkins of the Chambers County Circle of Care Center for Families were there talking to people about the many programs they offer to strengthen families.
Lanett firefighters were accompanied by Sparky the mascot to greet the children and upon request, to cool them down with mist.
Several jumpers were set up in a kids’ zone for the many kids present to work off their boundless energy.
Underneath the Juneteenth tent, t-shirts were sold for $20 and hats for $10.
A host of food trucks were parked along First Street next to the W.O. Lance playground. Vendors included Amaya’s Lemonade, Mamee’s Kitchen, Hot Diggity Dog, Mario Jenkins’ Nachos, DaQ Attack, TJ’s Sweets, Razzle Dazzle, Taqueria, DCM Barbecue, Jai’s Love at First Bite, Sheila’s Sour Fruit, Boiled Peanuts, Jazzy Pig Barbecue, J’s Brittle, LaShae’s Lemonade and Funnel Cakes.
Among the local crafters selling their wares at the event were Avon representative Karen Johnson, Paparazzi Jewelry and Cynthia Johnson.
Nonprofits participating in the Juneteenth celebration were the Circle of Care, team WHIP, Alabama State University, the local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, the Reed Foundation, One Vision and Masonic Lodges Nos. 33 and 876.
At 6 p.m. Juneteenth Chair Trudye Johnson went to the stage to introduce the three winners of this year’s poster contest; Rondrekus Daniel of W.F. Burns in Valley, first place; Shawntia Stafford of W.O. Lance Elementary in Lanett, second place, and Khamnah Goldsmith of K.P. Powell in LaFayette, third place. The first-place poster was a beautifully attired 21st-century model rising from a 19th-century cotton field, depicting the contrast between then and now.
Sponsors for this year’s Juneteenth Community Festival in Lanett included the cities of Lanett and West Point, the West Point Development Authority, the Chambers County Development Authority, Kia of Georgia, the Sewing Machine Company, Johnny’s Pizza, Pilgrim Baptist Church, Mount Hermon Baptist Church, Goodsell Methodist Church, Kenny Knox Tire, the Lanier Historical Society, M.W. Lee Mortuary, The Valley Local, One Vision, Dobbs Corporation, Morgan & Sons Funeral Home and Team WHIP.
A fun day for the many people who turned out ended with a 9:30 p.m. fireworks show at the Lanett Mill site.
Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the United States. It is celebrated on June 19 to commemorate the end of slavery in the U.S.
Juneteenth is also known as Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day, Freedom Day and Black Independence Day.
