Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Reporters Notebook
It will be the pits — barbecue pits that is — on Saturday at Potter Park for Clovis’ annual Juneteenth celebration.
Some of the area’s best grill masters will hit the park at 5 a.m. to get the pits going with loads of food, according to event coordinator Barbara Singleton.
“We’re going to have all kinds of barbecue ...” she said.
The eating will kick off at noon. At 11 a.m. coordinators will read a Juneteenth proclamation and the black national anthem.
Once the food starts flowing, so will the fun. Coordinators have scheduled loads of activities for the kiddos. Among them are free swimming from 2-4 p.m., potato sack races and other children’s games.
They’ve haven’t forgotten about the rest of the family though. Evelyn Rising, a Lubbock speaker, will take the stage to share a Juneteenth message with celebrants.
Several local and statewide musicians are also slated to entertain on Saturday. Among the performers preparing for the festivities is Farrell, a Christian Latin singer out of Portales, and the Gospel rap group Test, who call Las Cruces their home. Several local groups will also be on hand.
Two scholarships, as well as a $100 cash prize, will be given away through a drawing, Singleton said.
While the event has attracted 3,000 to 4,000 folks during the past seven years, organizers expect dramatically more participants this year.
Reporter’s notebook was compiled by CNJ Correspondent Emilie Hornak. Suggested items may be mailed to editor David Stevens at P.O. Box 1689, Clovis 88102. The e-mail address is:
