We are celebrating our freedom! Austin and our surrounding areas will be celebrating with fun for the family, parades, music and of course good food. To help plan your day of activities, below are a few events you may want to consider and share with others.

AUSTIN

The Austin parade will be on June 17th starting at 10:00am. It will start at MLK and Comal and will end at Chestnut and Rosewood Ave. From the parade join the fun at Rosewood Park for music, vendors, food and great outdoor fun. The Park Festival will be from 12pm-8pm. Click here for more information

ROUND ROCK

Round Rock will be celebrating Juneteenth on June 16th and 17th with their Rhythm and Ribs Festival. The barbeque cook-off will be held on Saturday, June 17th. There will be a health fair, music, vendors, and more.  Click here for more information

BASTROP

Bastrop will celebrate with a parade in downtown Bastrop on June 17th at 10:00am. They will have a Emanicipation Proclamation program at 11:30am and finaly street dancing at 7:30pm. They will have food, music and fun for the whole family.    Click here for more information.

PFLUGERVILLE

Black Pflugerville is having a fundraising event to celebrate Juneteenth. The event will be held on June 17th from 5pm-8pm at Bahadi’s Chicken and Lounge. There will be musical guest such as Tree G and other artist. The proceeds will benefit their charitable efforts as they build the Black family. Tickets are $10-20 dollars but for a great cause. For more information visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-pflugervilles-juneteenth-celebration-fundraiser-with-live-music-by-tree-g-and-others-tickets-34280035509.

HISTORY

Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day, is a holiday that commemorates the June 19, 1865 announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas, and more generally the emancipation of African-American slaves throughout the Confederate South. Juneteenth is recognized as a state holiday or special day of observance in most states.^[3]

The holiday is observed primarily in local celebrations. Traditions include public readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, singing traditional songs such as “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing“, and readings by noted African-American writers such as Ralph Ellison and Maya Angelou.^[4] Celebrations may include parades, rodeos, street fairs, cookouts, family reunions, park parties, historical reenactments, or Miss Juneteenth contests.^[5]

History courtesy of Wikipedia

 

As we enjoy the parades, the food and family fun, remember what this day really means for Black Americans. We still have a long way to go, but the strides we have made are due to our ancestors and their fight for a better tomorrow for all of us.

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Photos: Google

-Damita Miller-Shanklin-