The Eighth of August is a historically significant day in this part of west Kentucky and Tennessee, as it represents the day slaves in this area learned of their freedom.
While most of the country celebrates that day on June 19th, or Juneteenth, here in this part of Kentucky, August 8 is widely recognized as Emancipation Day, as that’s when enslaved people of this region first learned of their freedom in the 1860’s. People have been celebrating locally on August 8th for years, and that stays true for this year, with numerous events planned.
The Hopkinsville-Christian County Human Rights Commission and the Museums of Historic Hopkinsville will be celebrating with a big event on Friday at the Pennyroyal Museum, while the Taste of the Town Food Festival will take over Founders Square Friday and Saturday. And then at the Holiday Inn Convention Center by the James E. Bruce Convention Center, you can take part in the Home For August 8th Celebration.
Hopkinsville native Perry Pettus is an organizer for the event and says people can expect good food, good music, along with good times and fellowship at the Holiday Inn from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m. on Friday night. Tickets can be purchased online at redpintix.com for $25, or they can be purchased at the door for $30.
Funds raised through ticket sales will go on to benefit Men2Be, a local non-profit that provides mentorship to young men in the community, saying mentors are more important than ever.
Perry recently sat down with Granville King, who once served as a 4-H Extension Office agent and mentored many children, and played some of that interview on WHOP Thursday morning, where they reflected on those memories and the joys of working with children.
The grants will be presented to Men2Be in honor of King, along with fellow 4-H agent Rachel Hopkins, George “Houston” Henry and Howard “Rudolph” Pettus.
Perry Pettus graduated from CCHS in 1970 and he went on to attend Murray State University before joining the U.S. Navy in 1972. Now he is a part of The Jazz “Z” Traveler LLC, a company based in Louisville that provides transportation and event management services for senior citizens.