Video: Juneteenth Festival Organizers May Take Case Back To Columbus Council

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Organizers are scrambling to save Lowndes County’s annual Juneteenth celebration. Columbus councilmen voted 5 to 1 Tuesday not to allow beer sales during the 19th annual festival in Sim Scott Park next month.

The festival has sold beer, like Market Street and other events for the last decade.The sales are usually about $1800.00 a year in profits to pay for the festival. Another location outside of Sim Scott Park is being pursued but is not as profitable.

“The whole issue of safety is not an issue because people will still bring beer in coolers. We’ve never had any trouble over there. It is unfortunate it’s gotten to this. But we’ll make a decision on Juneteenth before the weekend is out. It’s all predicated on whether we’re going to be able to pay for it or not.”

The festival could ask the council to reconsider at its next meeting but councilmen tell WCBI it’s uncertain whether the vote would change.