Palm Springs To Host Juneteenth Freedom Weekend June 18-20

PALM SPRINGS, CA — In partnership with the city's Black History Committee, Palm Springs will celebrate "Juneteenth Freedom Weekend" with events throughout the city on June 18-20.

"Experience the richness of Black American culture through live entertainment, local businesses, food vendors, family-friendly activities, youth empowerment and community celebration," the nonprofit organization said on its website. "Three days. Three events. One unforgettable weekend honoring history, heritage and freedom."

The celebration will kickoff at 7 p.m. June 18 with entertainment, community engagement and local vendors along Palm Canyon Drive in the downtown area.

A Unity Picnic will take place the following day at 5 p.m., featuring food, music and activities at Museum Way and Belardo Road. A concert will subsequently take place at 7 p.m., with a performance by Debby Holiday's Tina Turner tribute show.

The festivities will conclude with a youth pageant show at 5:30 p.m. June 20 at the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center, located at 480 Tramview Road.

All events, with the exception of the pageant, will be free to attend, officials said.

Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of slaves in the United States. The holiday marks the anniversary of Union Army Gen. Gordon Granger reading General Order No. 3 in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865. It began, "The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free."

The Palm Springs Black History Committee aims to preserve and share the stories of Black pioneers whose impact helped shape the history of the city and the Coachella Valley, organizers said.

More information about the events can be found at palmspringsblackhistory.org.