PINE BLUFF - On June 19, Main Street in downtown Pine Bluff will come alive with food trucks, local vendors, line dancing, free food tastings, and a main stage set to take the crowd on a "Fantastic Voyage." The occasion is the 3rd Annual Juneteenth in the Bluff: An Arts and Culture Festival, a free, family-friendly celebration headlined by Lakeside, the legendary R&B group behind "Fantastic Voyage," and organized by the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) in partnership with the City of Pine Bluff, the Pine Bluff Advertising and Promotion Commission, and community partners.The festival will be held FROM 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, June 19, in the Delta Rhythm & Bayous Cultural District. It is the first event held in the district since the opening of Phase I of the Delta Rhythm & Bayous Blues & Wellness Plaza in February.Juneteenth is a federal holiday commemorating June 19, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Texas learned of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. In Pine Bluff, that history is honored through a festival that brings residents and visitors downtown for music, art, food, family activities, and a celebration of culture and community.For organizers and community leaders, the event reflects a larger idea taking shape in Pine Bluff: arts, culture, heritage, and a public space can help bring people downtown, support local businesses, strengthen tourism, and build community pride."Juneteenth in the Bluff reflects the momentum we are building in Pine Bluff," said Mayor Vivian Flowers. "As we continue developing the DRB Cultural District, this festival shows how arts, heritage, tourism, and community partnership can come together to support economic growth and create meaningful experiences for residents and visitors. Pine Bluff has a powerful story to tell, and this event helps bring that story to life in the heart of downtown." That story is already visible in the Blues &am...
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