BETHESDA, Md. — Walking through the 500-seat art deco Bethesda Theater on Saturday night was like stepping into a Scotland family reunion. With arms outstretched, members of Scotland founding, and extended families, joined with friends to party with a purpose. It was like a warm hug with joy enveloping everyone in attendance.
This opening night celebration kicked off the five-day Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival, which culminates in a day of reflecting on this vibrant Black community that came to be known as Scotland back in 1880.
WUSA9 Anchor Lesli Foster was the emcee for the night, and it kicked off with a big surprise for Scotland descendant and modern matriarch, LaTisha Gasaway-Paul.
Gasaway-Paul, owner of several successful businesses in Montgomery County and a Scotland descendant, was elected to the Montgomery County Business Hall of Fame. She’s only the third Black woman elected to that body since 2012.
The opening night celebration helped to celebrate the brainchild of Gasaway-Paul and her sisters, LaTrice Gasaway-Johnson and Teresa Gasaway-Gleaton, along with the Glenstone Museum, Bruce Adams of the Bethesda Big Train Baseball and Montgomery Parks. Together they envisioned a regional heritage festival that centered Scotland as part of a days long Juneteenth celebration in Montgomery County. This annual celebration is in its second year.
Scotland is the first place Black people owned land in Potomac, Maryland.
The night brought people from all walks of faith and life together, along with supporters like David and Carrie Marriott. In late May, The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation donated $1 million toward the efforts to restore the Scotland AME Zion Church.
RELATED: Swindled out of their land, but still standing: Maryland's Scotland community is rich with history
The show kicked off with a Montgomery County singing sensation, Kelvin Dukes, who was also an America’s Got Talent contestant. Musician Daryl Davis and his band shared a tribute to the storied Du-Drop Inn of the past with a blues inspired performance. Davis’ band played during a dance contest and a contest for the best dressed at the event.
The night closed with a rousing performance from the Chuck Brown Band, headlined by his son Wiley, who carries the family name and channels the spirit and energy of his father.
The Scotland Juneteeth Heritage Festival Activities can be found on the official website. Proceeds benefit the renovation of the Scotland AME Zion Church and its efforts to reopen by the end of the year.
WUSA9 and TEGNA are media sponsors of this year’s event. A donation from both of $2,500 was made to benefit Scotland AME Zion Church.
Five other nonprofit organizations will also receive some of the net proceeds from the Juneteenth Festival.
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