Tuscaloosa Juneteenth Events To Include Parade, Car Show And More

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Tuscaloosa residents will have multiple ways to commemorate Juneteenth through a series of events commemorating the end of slavery in the United States while also celebrating Black history, culture and community.

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The Tuscaloosa County Branch of the NAACP will host several of the area's largest Juneteenth observances, beginning with the Juneteenth Living Legends Luncheon on Friday, June 19, at Shelton State Community College's C.A. Fredd Campus.

The annual event recognizes local leaders and community members whose contributions have helped shape Tuscaloosa and West Alabama.

The celebration will continue Saturday, June 20, with the NAACP's annual Juneteenth Parade.

Organizers said participants will line up at 9 a.m. at Westlawn Middle School before the parade steps off at 10 a.m.

The parade route through west Tuscaloosa will feature community organizations, local groups and marching bands.

Following the parade, residents can gather at Palmore Park for the Tuscaloosa NAACP Juneteenth Community Day celebration.

The free event will include vendors, food trucks, live entertainment and family-friendly activities.

A new addition to this year's festivities is the Tuscaloosa Juneteenth Car Show, which will be held in conjunction with the community celebration activities on June 20.

Across the bridge, the Juneteenth of Northport Committee will host a family-friendly celebration on Sunday at the Faucett Brothers Activity Center featuring live blues and R&B performances, comedy segments by TK Perry and Kahlia Leo, and a dance-off with Ashley Wheat.

Attendees in Northport can enjoy free food while supplies last and a variety of kids activities in the community-focused event hosted by Kris Campbell.

Juneteenth, observed annually on June 19, commemorates the day in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed enslaved African Americans that they were free — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.

The holiday became a federal holiday in 2021.

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