Events are planned in Hopkinsville to celebrate the Eighth of August, which commemorates the emancipation of slaves during the Civil War.
Here are three celebrations on the calendar:
Museum celebration
The Human Rights Commission and the Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County will host their Emancipation Celebration from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4, at the Pennyroyal Area Museum, 217 E. Ninth St.
The museum event is a tribute to African American history. Community members are invited for music, food, activities and historical presentations. Admission is free.
Supper Club with Pioneers
The museum and HRC will also host an Eighth of August Supper Club at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, at Pioneers Memorial Complex, 904-A N. Main St.
The Supper Club is a monthly series that seeks to inspire cultural and culinary conversations among community members.
“This month’s program features community favorites prepared by the catering team from Pioneers Inc.,” organizers said in a Facebook post. “The gentlemen will share more about their organization while folks get to sample barbecue, burgoo, and sweet tea.”
The cost $10 per person. Tickets are available in advance at Pennyroyal Area Museum or online through the museum’s Shopify.
Taste of the Town
The fourth annual Taste of the Town food truck and dessert rally, plus live music, will be from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, at Hopkinsville Brewing Co., 102 E. Fifth St.
The owners of Vansauwa’s Tacos and Vegan Eats are the organizers of Taste of the Town, which is expected to have at least 10 vendors this years.
The vendors will have Caribbean-inspired cuisine, along with barbecue, loaded fries, Philly cheesesteaks, vegan food, burgers, fried chicken and fish — plus a new offering, authentic African cuisine.
Desserts will include Italian ice, caramel cake, strawberry crunch cake, honeybun cake, cookie butter cake, carrot cake, grape salad and other sweet treats.
“Similar to Juneteenth, Eighth of August is when enslaved people in Kentucky received the news that the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed. To celebrate, we’re highlighting all Black-owned food and dessert vendors across the (Kentucky/Tennessee) region,” the organizers describe in a Facebook post.
Here’s the list of food trucks and vendors that will participate:
- Palate Junkies — quesadillas, mac bowls, burgers and wraps
- Veggie Or Not LLC — cauliflower wings, loaded mushrooms, plant-based Fiesta Dogs, Nashville hot vegan Mac-n-Chz, fried pickles and frozen drinks
- BIG PAPA LLC — hickory smoked BBQ, pork chops, ribs, BBQ baked potatoes, smoked bologna and grilled corn
- Bag Lady’s Fry Joint — Handcrafted loaded fries topped with everything from chicken bacon ranch to brisket, steak, fried chicken and a vegan option
- 3 TYS Agency — dessert grape salad
- D&A Taste Of Africa LLC — Authentic African cuisine, including Jollof fried rice, fufu, Egusi soup and chicken gizzards
- Itzaphillything — Philly cheesesteaks, chicken cheesesteaks, egg rolls and flavored water ice
- Big Daddy’s Southern Chicken & Fish — fried wings, fish, fries, dirty rice, mac and cheese, green beans and yams
- Ain’t No Mo Kitchen — massive strombolis and loaded salads
- Vansauwa’s Tacos & Vegan Eats — Caribbean-inspired tacos, carnival nachos, burrito bowls, fried plantain, vegan Black Power tacos, jackfruit tacos and Bajan Beach Water
The DJ Buddafly will provide music, and guests are invited to bring lawn chairs and sit on the patio or green space.
“We are adding a soulful line-dancing hour to the event led by Xtreme HipHop with Lanora,” Zirconia Vansauwa said in an email. “We did this at our re-opening block party back in April and it was a hit! Come ready to do the Tamia line dance, the Cupid shuffle and more.”
Line-dancing will be from 1 to 2 p.m.
