Santa Monica To Mark 30th Juneteenth Celebration With Music, Panels

SANTA MONICA, CA — The first Juneteenth was celebrated in Santa Monica in 1992 when community activist LaVerne Ross first brought the holiday to city leaders. It was a holiday that her family commemorated in Texas.

It's known as the nation's second Independence Day and the oldest celebration marking the end of slavery in the country. Santa Monica will recognize the 30th Annual Juneteenth Celebration on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Virginia Avenue Park.

"Over the years, thanks to LaVerne’s dedication and leadership, the event has grown into an important annual tribute that brings together Santa Monica’s Black community," city officials wrote in this year's release.

In March, the Santa Monica City Council designated Juneteenth, along with Cesar Chavez Day, as an official City holiday.

"As a city, we want our holiday observances to reflect our values and celebrate important trailblazers and moments in our collective history," said Mayor Sue Himmelrich. "So Santa Monica is proud to adopt and observe Cesar Chavez Day and Juneteenth as official City holidays and to shine a brighter light on their significance to our nation’s history."

City facilities and programs will be closed to observe Juneteenth on Sunday.

At the celebration on Sunday, there will be live bands, a performance from three-time Grammy award winner jazz singer-songwriter Dee Dee Bridgewater, presentations from Ross, food vendors and a performance from the Santa Monica Repertory Theater.

See the full schedule below, according to the City of Santa Monica:

Main Stage Line Up:

1p.m. Traditional drum call with Chazz Ross

1:30 p.m. Local favorite Block Party Band

2:30 p.m. Invocation by Interfaith Council

2:45 p.m. Three-time Grammy award winner jazz singer-songwriter Dee Dee Bridgewater, sponsored in part by The Broad Stage

3:45 p.m. Presentations, Juneteenth Founder, LaVerne Ross

4:15 p.m. Contemporary jazz saxophonist Mike Phillips - smooth, romantic riffs with a funky, hip-hop-influenced sound

5:45 p.m. American all-female pop/R&B band KLYMAXX with founder Bernadette Cooper and members Lorena Porter Shelby, Cheryl Cooley, Robbin Grider, Lynn Malsby, and Joyce "Fenderella" Irby

6:40 p.m. Closing remarks, Juneteenth Founder, LaVerne Ross

6:45 p.m. Theresa Smith, closing dance performance

Community Stage Line Up:

Master of Ceremonies: Sean Hill

1:15 p.m. Divine Variations Impact Team writers sharing original texts written for Juneteenth

2:15 p.m. Divine Variations Impact Team writers sharing original texts written for Juneteenth

2:30 p.m. Committee for Racial Justice educational panel discussions - A Resilient People

3:30 p.m. Committee for Racial Justice educational panel discussions - Empowering Children to Be Resilient

5 p.m. Santa Monica Repertory Theater series of original works and stories by members

Marketplace:

Vendors will be offering a wide variety of cultural arts, jewelry, clothing and more. Vendors include Nitz by Natz, Wanawake Wanawake Hats, YM Jewels, African Carvings, SD Fashions, A Makers Magic and Sagedbeading.