Fayette’s annual Juneteenth celebration will have a different look this year. Instead of a weekend full of festivities on and around the downtown courthouse square, the Juneteenth Celebration Committee and St. Paul United Methodist Church have decided cancel the formal event due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Instead, a motorcade will make its way through the streets of Fayette.

Juneteenth is a celebration that recognizes the emancipation of all African Americans in the United States that dates back to January 1, 1863 when the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect.

Anyone interested in joining the motorcade should meet in the parking lot of Fayette High School. The motorcade will depart at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 20. A Fayette police car will lead the motorcade through a designated route through town. Later, there will be a gathering at Liberty-Page Park. Swanny’s food truck will be on site.

On Sunday, the St. Paul United Methodist Church will hold an outdoor worship service on Sunday at 11 a.m. on the courthouse square. The guest speaker will be Rev. Cheryll Doughty, former pastor at St. Paul., who was instrumental in getting Juneteenth started in Fayette. “We are so grateful for her vision and dedication during that time along with the support from William ‘Bill’ Fisher and other members at St. Paul,” said Tim Jackman, one of the organizers of the event.

In the event of rain, the outdoor worship service will be canceled.

Questions about Juneteenth should be directed to Pastor Karen Jones at (573) 680-9889, or Tim Jackman at (573) 289-3714.