Rolling in the right direction: Go-Skate Daze for Juneteenth
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — It’s a day to celebrate, and to educate.
“Juneteenth means a lot to me because it’s when the actual slaves got emancipated and we’re free. It’s our Independence Day,” said Linda Herndon at the Juneteenth Go-Skate Daze celebration in Portsmouth.
The event was held for the fourth year at the Portsmouth Skate Park in the Cradock community and was hosted by Hard Times Skate Shop owner Toney Herndon.
“It’s is the day that slavery was over, but it also allows people to express our freedom and be able to try to be creative in our own right,” Herndon said.
It’s a time for skaters and families to come together and have fun with some healthy competition prizes, food, and vendors
It’s also a time to celebrate freedom and recognize the history that allowed event organizer Herndon to become a business owner.
“I’m the only Black owned skate shop in the state,” he said.
This year, Herndon has partnered with the city to continue the skating at the park over the next two days. “Play VA All Day” is a statewide initiative happening Thursday to celebrate the longest day of the year. There will be skill building stations out at Cradock Skate Park from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Friday, they will be there from noon to 4 p.m. to celebrate “Go-Skate Day,” a nationally-recognized day, with free pizza and even more giveaways.
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