June 17 is set to be a busy day in Bedford County with the Juneteenth Celebration happening on the Shelbyville Square and with the annual RC-Cola and MoonPie Festival happening in Bell Buckle.

Juneteenth Celebration

The second annual Juneteenth Celebration in Shelbyville is hosted by the Gilliland Historical Research Center and the Rosenwald Recreation and Community Center.

The day will be to celebrate a “day about freedom,” recognizing June 19, 1865, when Union troops came to Galveston Bay, Texas, announcing that more than 250,000 slaves in the state were free by President Abraham Lincoln’s decree. President Joe Biden made June 19 a national holiday in 2021 and it was made an official holiday last year in Bedford County.

The line-up includes:

• ​7 a.m. - Juneteenth Memorial Walk at Woodfork Chapel AME, 1011 Lipscomb St. Contact Robert Cecil Johnson at 931-580-3690
• 9:15 am Parade Line Up at 211 Lane Parkway
• 10 a.m. PARADE begins
• 11 a.m. Opening Ceremonies
• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Arts, Crafts, Food Vendors, Community Health Booths
• 10 a.m. to noon - Children & Youth Activities, Bounce House, Face Painting, etc.
• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Entertainment ​Stage (music, dancers, singers)
• Noon - 1 p.m. - Program presented by Jason Scales, Keynote Speaker
• 1 p.m. - Awards Ceremony (coloring page, poster, essay contests)

Schedule vendors include:

• Nelson's Grill -Whiting Fish/Coleslaw/Spaghetti
• Uniquely Yours By K. Marie - Baked Goods & Desserts
• Smokey Ray’s Bbq / B Jeans Sweets & Treats
• Liv Luxury - Clothing And Crafts
• Silly Goat Farm -Goat Milk Soap, Lotion, Shave Soap
• Funky Funnnel Cakes
• Bailey Smokes - Pulled Pork, Nachos, Bologna And More
• Holman Smoked Bologna Sandwiches
• Chunn Designs - Shirts, Cups, Body Butter, Decals
• Granny's Goodies - Baked Desserts
• Shelbyville - Bedford County Library
• Joe Frazier - Wood Working Crafts
• Charity Lodge 82 - Fish Fry
• Jaybella's Jazzy $5 - $5 Jewelry
• Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital
• Rugs By Devin – Hand-Crafted Rugs
• Sevier St. First Baptist Ushers - Hotdogs & Lemonade
• Tn Vaccination Services - Covid Vaccinations
• Community Clinic Of Shelbyville & Bedford County

RC-Cola and MoonPie

Well, the wackiness is back. In Bell Buckle’s rolling hills during the perennial crowd favorite of Bell Buckle’s RC-MoonPie Festival and 10 Mile and 5K Run. This award-winning festival comes to life with fun after fun all day long.

With this year’s event, there will be a new flavor for the World’s Largest MoonPie that has never ever never been made before. It’s the one and only place you’ll find out the secret flavor and get a piece of the pie, because it’s served to all that attend.

The day will start with the the 10 Mile and 5K courses, which are certified and set among beautiful natural landscapes. Registration and all other information pertaining to the race can be found at https://bellbucklerc-moonpie10mileand5krun.com/.

The ever-popular Synchronized (sort of) Waders are back. This year’s tongue-in-cheek entertainment is “The Blue Moon of Bell Buckle: Keep on Pie’n”. Then on to the Bell Buckle Royal Coronation of Her Royal Highness, Thistle Farms Founder Becca Stevens and His Royal Highness, Grammy Winner and Hall of Fame Songwriter, Marcus Hummon. Local songwriter Thomas Heath will be performing with a blend of the best of Soul, Rock-n-Roll, and country riffs.

The day will also feature MoonPie games, such as the MoonPie toss or hula-hoop contest while eating a MoonPie and drinking an RC and others. And, the crème de la crème du jour, will be the serving of the World’s Largest MoonPie.

The full schedule includes:

• 7 a.m. Annual Bell Buckle Chamber 10 Mile & 5K Run
• 8:30 - 9 a.m. Bell Buckle Chamber 5K run Awards
• 9 a.m. Craft Fair/ Food Court (Open All Day)
• 9 – 10 a.m. Midstate Cloggers
• 10 -10:30 a.m. Bell Buckle Chamber 10 Mile Run Awards
• 10:30 - 11:15 a.m. Midstate Cloggers
• 11:15 a.m. RC Cola and MoonPie PARADE
• 12 p.m. The Bell Buckle Players Present: Blue Moon of Bell Buckle Keep on Pie’n; CORONATION of RC Cola King Marcus Hummon and MoonPie Queen Becca Stevens
• 12:45-1:30 p.m. Musical Entertainment Featuring Singer-Songwriter Thomas Heath
• 1:30 - 2 p.m. RC Cola & MoonPie Games. Prizes for: farthest traveled, youngest attendee present & oldest attendee present
• 2 - 2:45 p.m. Musical Entertainment by Singer-Songwriter Thomas Heath & Photo/Autograph Opportunities
• 2:45 – 4 p.m. RC Cola & MoonPie Games
• 4 p.m. WORLD’S LARGEST MOONPIE Served!