Garner Juneteenth Celebration Coming to GPAC June 21st

The Town of Garner and Garner Juneteenth Committee will present the annual Garner Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 21, at 11 a.m. at Garner Performing Arts Center (742 W. Garner Road).

This free event will feature local choirs, dance and narrative interwoven with documentary-style video segments that explore various aspects of Garner's history through the recollections of those who lived it. Congresswoman Deborah Ross and Mayor Buddy Gupton will make remarks as well.

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History and Background

Galveston 1865

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.  Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free.

This was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation - which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order.

However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance.

In the early years

Little interest existed outside the African American community in participation in the celebrations. In some cases, there was outwardly exhibited resistance by barring the use of public property for the festivities.

Most of the festivities found themselves out in rural areas around rivers and creeks that could provide for additional activities such as fishing, horseback riding and barbecues. Often church grounds were the site for such activities.

Eventually, as African Americans became landowners, land was donated and dedicated for these festivities. One of the earliest documented land purchases in the name of Juneteenth was organized by Rev. Jack Yates.

Neuse River Big Band Holiday Concert at GPAC. Dec 10th 3pm and 7:30pm Shows

Witness the talents of 20 volunteer musicians in The Neuse River Big Band. These NC Triangle area artists will have your toes tapping during an unforgettable trip down memory lane along with some of your favorite holiday tunes. Inspired by the Big Band era, they perform timeless favorites from artists such as the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and more.

IMPORTANT EVENT NOTES

• Seating for this performance is general admission.

• A zip-code radius limit of 250 miles is in place for online sales to all of our shows. If you live further than 250 miles, please contact our box office at 919-661-4602 to purchase tickets.

• The use of face masks is optional for all patrons and staff, regardless of vaccination status.

• The health and safety of our patrons, performers and staff is our top priority. Should any of our health and safety guidelines change prior to a show, ticket holders will be notified as soon as possible.

• Wheelchair and handicapped accessible seating is available. Please call 919-661-4602 if you need further assistance or complete the online request below.

• Cash only concessions will be available.

Garner Performing Arts Center

December 10, 2022

3:00 PM
Doors Open: 2:30 PM

December 10, 2022

7:30 PM

Doors Open: 7:00 PM

Juneteenth Community Celebration

Our community will come together at Garner Performing Arts Center (742 W. Garner Road) on Sunday, June 19, at 2:30 p.m. for an afternoon of music, dance, spoken word performances and more as we celebrate Juneteenth and our nation's progress toward freedom for all.

Live musical performances by

Rozlyn Sorrell
Lena Mae Perry
Darrien Rutherford

Spoken word by Imani Horton

Special guest Tammy Brunner (Wake County Register of Deeds)

This event is brought to you by the Garner Juneteenth Committee and the Town of Garner. Learn more at garnerjuneteenth.com.

Willie Bradley Graces The Garner Performing Arts Center April 29th

Bold, edgy, yet simultaneously charming and beautiful, well-describe the music of artist/trumpeter Willie Bradley.

Considered a go-to musician for many of soul music greats, his music has made the Smooth Jazz Billboard Charts and has been added to Smooth Jazz Radio Stations like Pandora, Spotify and iHeart Radio.

Willie has performed at numerous high profile shows around the country including multiple jazz festivals and has played in the brass section with RJ & The Original James Brown Band touring abroad in France, Osaka and Tokyo.

His newest CD project “Going With The Flow”, brings together award winning producer Preston Glass and a cast of stellar musicians with varied styles. His musical talents are guaranteed to be savored by all.

Garner PRCR's Lorie Clark Receives Margaret Rigg Social Justice Award

Town of Garner Cultural Arts and Events Manager Lorie Clark has received the 2021 Margaret Rigg Social Justice Award, which recognizes an alumna who has demonstrated committed service in the advancement of gender and family justice since graduation from Eckerd College.

Clark has worked for social justice in the Chapel Hill–Carrboro community of North Carolina for more than two decades. As a high school specialist to the Blue Ribbon Mentor-Advocate Program (BRMA) in the Chapel Hill–Carrboro City Schools for 18 years, she provided opportunities for student growth with a social justice focus. In BRMA, she created experiences for students of color that empowered them to succeed in spaces not originally welcoming to them.

She also was the adviser of BRMA’s Youth Leadership Institute, serving 100 students of all races each year. Under Lorie’s guidance, the Blue Ribbon Leadership Institute was the third-largest extracurricular program in the school district and earned the University of North Carolina’s University Diversity Award. 

"I am delighted and humbled to be this year’s recipient of the Eckerd College Margaret Rigg Social Justice Award," Clark said. "I believe my family's commitment to service and the experiences at Eckerd College prepared me for a life of service to others."  

In her current role as youth adviser to the Chapel Hill–Carrboro NAACP Council, Lorie worked with students to organize peaceful protests in support of the changes asked by the Black Lives Matter movement. With homemade posters, students marched—socially distant and masked—in summer’s heat with community leaders from Chapel Hill–Carrboro’s NAACP and local churches.

Lorie’s work for social justice extends beyond the school system. She founded The Hannah Ruth Foundation to honor her maternal and paternal grandmothers, who have deep roots in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. By bringing together the youth and the elderly, bonds are built between generations, as bridges to the future. The youth learn about the elderly through service—including holiday meal delivery and organizing events such as a formal Valentine’s Day dance and a holiday party for seniors.

Lorie’s service has been recognized by many organizations, including the Chapel Hill–Carrboro NAACP and National Council of Negro Women. Among numerous awards for her community service, the Pauli Murray Service Award, given to Lorie in 2019 by the Orange County Human Rights Commission, is particularly significant. Born in the Jim Crow era, Pauli Murray—poet, writer, activist, labor organizer, legal theorist and Episcopal priest—overcame obstacles during her youth in nearby Durham, North Carolina. In learning about her, one student wrote that Murray reminded her of Lorie Clark: “Ahead of her time, and behind the scenes.”

Lorie began her employment with the Garner Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department in January of 2020 as the Cultural Arts and Events Manager.  

Learn more about this award program.

Courtesy Town of Garner