Bessie Smith Cultural Center.(Bessie Smith Cultural Center)

In downtown Chattanooga this weekend, a jam for the Juneteenth holiday at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center.

The holiday - which is Monday - commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans after the end of the Civil War.

On Saturday, the Bessie will host its Juneteenth Freedom Celebration, from Noon to 6:30 PM.

Elijah Cameron is with The Bessie.

(Bessie Smith Cultural Center)

A bee sits on Bluebells at Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center in Chattanooga.(Olivia Ross / Chattanooga Times Free Press)

Citizen conservationists, the pollinators are waiting for you on Lookout Mountain, Georgia.

On Saturday, a pollinator festival and native plant sale will be held at Lookout Mountain City Hall - 1214 Lula Lake Rd. - from 9 AM to Noon.

Ann Brown is a member of the Lookout Mountain Beautiful Garden Club - and a representative of Bee City USA.

Tish Gailmard is with Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center here in Chattanooga.

Calaghan Rudd is Archer in Obvious Dad’s “Sagittarius Ponderosa.”(Obvious Dad)

What’s in a name?

What do those symbols mean?

What about that encounter under the pine tree?

Just a few of the questions raised in “Sagittarius Ponderosa,” the first play in this summer’s season from theatre company Obvious Dad.

It opens on Friday at 7:30 PM in the Fine Arts Center on our campus, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Blake Harris is the director of “Sagittarius Ponderosa” - and the artistic director of Obvious Dad.

From last year’s Southside Juneteenth Jubilee.(The Bethlehem Center)

This weekend, celebrations for Juneteenth will be held around Chattanooga.

The holiday - which is on Monday - commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans after the end of the Civil War.

On Saturday, in Alton Park, the Bethlehem Center at 200 W. 38th St. will host the Southside Juneteenth Jubilee, from 1 PM to 4 PM.

Reginald Smith II is executive director of The Bethlehem Center.

Maria Noel is president of the South Chattanooga Community Association.

This majolica pitcher, featuring the Tennessee state flower, is part of the Houston Museum’s collection - and it was part of a larger series that featured different flowers from around the world, made in France by Onnaing pottery in the early 1900’s.(Houston Museum of Decorative Arts)

In the Bluff View Art District in downtown Chattanooga, you’ll find the Houston Museum of Decorative Arts.

Within its Victorian walls are antiques and collectibles from that era through the Depression era.

Just around the corner from the Hunter Museum of American Art, the Houston now has an artist-in-residence: Kris Bespalec.

On Friday, starting at 6 PM, she will give an artist talk - followed by a tour - at the Houston.

Kris Bespalec(William Johnson / William Johnson Photography)

(Conasauga Shakespeare Coalition)

“The Two Gentlemen of Verona” is this year’s production from the Conasauga Shakespeare Coalition.

The professional theater nonprofit - dedicated to staging the works of William Shakespeare in Northwest Georgia - will present the comedy this Friday and Saturday at Prater’s Mill in Varnell, and next Friday and Saturday at Burr Performing Arts Park in Dalton.

Lane Davies is the director of “The Two Gentlemen of Verona.”

His son Nathan plays Proteus.

Steve Ray, theatre professor on our campus - the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga - is co-set designer and co-director.

(Conasauga Shakespeare Coalition)

William Isom(International Storytelling Center)

The Black in Appalachia Project - based here in East Tennessee - highlights stories and contributions of African-Americans throughout the Appalachian region, the Mountain South in particular.

On Thursday, the Project’s director William Isom comes to Chattanooga for a presentation at Stove Works, starting at 6 PM, as part of this year’s Chattanooga Festival of Black Arts and Ideas.