The East Florence community and Flo-Town 102.9 hosted their annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday.

The event attracts hundreds throughout the Pee Dee each year.

Residents in the community brought in Juneteenth in style and for many the annual celebration is known as “Buddahfest”, an event going strong for more than 15 years.  


“We’ve been doing the event since 1992 and Buddah has been a part of these events since 1992,” said coordinator Pam Gibson-HyeMoore

Tirek Robinson also known as the the Flo-Town 102.9 radio personality “Uncle Buddah” has been in the business for just as long. 


 “It started out as a unity day for the community and it just ended up a little bit bigger. A lot of different names, sponsors and different artists started coming aboard so this is what we have at Levy Park each and every year around this time,” mentioned Robinson.


 Although the event is held primarily to raise money for the community. Sponsors say events like this one helps bridge the gap between the community and local talent. 


 “Talent that some people might never get a chance to hear, might never get a chance to know, but they’ll get a chance to hear it here because the people at the radio station go ahead and understand that community is most important,” said Flo-Town 102.9 radio personality Doug Banks.

 It’s something that’s important to a familiar face who represents the entire community


“To see the people out here on one accord together, no fighting nothing like that, just love, just love,” says Miss Florence 2015 Kierra Carter.
 The funds and donations received will go towards community based events such as a back to school drive later this summer.