I just heard that today is a holiday. Nobody told me to take the day off work! So I did some research, so I won’t miss this opportunity next year.
June 19 is Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. The day is to commemorate the announcement of the abolition of slavery. The holiday started in Texas in 1865 but is now recognized in 31 states, including Arkansas. The name Juneteenth is a combination of the words June and nineteenth, which is called a portmanteau. (You learn something every day.)
I’ve been told the day is traditionally celebrated with a large feast served as an all day meal in a park or outdoor space, and that food typically includes barbecue, fried chicken, greens, baked bread, red soda, pies, home-made ice cream, and watermelon.
Did you notice the part that said “all day meal”? There was also a mention of fried chicken and barbecue. That’s what I’m talkin’ about! 🙂 Unfortunately I don’t know anyone having a party for this, but now you know, so there’s no excuse for next year.
Buffet o' Blog 
Fab
Mrs. Fab’s hometown of Wilmar has a really big Juneteenth celebration. You should go check it out.
Bag O' Donuts
Yeah in Wilmar they have the whole shebangabang. Including the Juneteenth specialty of barbecued goat. Goat: The other other white meat.
Beppo
Wilmar? I pulled it up in Google Maps, and the default street view is an intersection without a stoplight, but there’s a lot of trees. I did see a couple of houses and a water tower. I’m supposing this is a very small town?
So when you say “a really big Juneteenth celebration”, what do you mean by “really big”? That the whole town shows up? 😮 That’s not a dis’ against small towns and festivals; it’s just kinda ironic to say a “really big … celebration” on a world-renown blog, when it might be a few dozen people… 🙂
But all that said, how could one pass up barbecued goat? That’s not something you eat everyday…