Historic Juneteenth Celebration Has Something For Everyone

VALLEJO, CA— Visitors who come to Vallejo’s 31st Annual Juneteenth Festival on Saturday, June 15th will experience a variety of ways to enjoy the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. The event originated in Galveston, Texas in 1865, recognizing June 19th as African American Emancipation Day and has since become a celebrated event worldwide. Under the theme “It Takes a Village,” Vallejo’s celebration takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, 100 Georgia Street in downtown Vallejo behind JFK Library. Rev Dr. Terrence Nichols, Pastor of New Hope Community Church will emcee the event.

Juneteenth will offer an abundance of exhibitors promoting education, employment, health and financial wealth building. The day will be filled with live entertainment featuring local bands and performers including DW Edwards Lighting Up the Soul, Emile Vincent, Joyce Grant, and Rosie Pugh. Youth performers include singer/songwriter Lyric, and martial arts demonstrations by Soaring Eagles Tae Kwon Do Academy. The audience will want to join in a performance by the Break It Down Soul Line Dancers. Merchants will be selling clothing, accessories, health and beauty products, books, and more. Of course, no celebration would be complete without the mouthwatering aroma of delicious food including favorites like barbeque and fried fish dinners, stuffed baked potatoes, desserts, corn dogs and chicken nuggets for the kids.

Organized by the nonprofit Solano County African Family Celebration Committee, also known as the African American Family Reunion Committee, the event’s major sponsors include Kaiser Permanente and the City of Vallejo Recycling Division. Visitors are encouraged to stop by Kaiser Permanente’s Mobile Health Unit for blood pressure and BMI checkups and learn how to manage stress, eat healthy and stay active. Physicians will be on hand to answer questions and Kaiser Permanente members can book appointments and receive other preventive health screenings. Solano County health professionals will provide free dental check ups and HIV testing. Residents can learn about Vallejo’s recycling program through interactive displays, games and a photo booth.

Visitors are encouraged to bring donations of school supplies to “Pack the Bus” which will be used to stock the Teacher Supply Store at Vallejo High School. Items most needed are notebook paper, folders, pens, pencils, tissue and hand sanitizer. The Vallejo Police Department will offer child safety fingerprinting and the Vallejo Firefighter Youth Academy will have a huge trailer with hands-on activities to teach children about fire prevention and safety. Winners of the Juneteenth Essay and Poster contest will be announced at the event.

For more information, visit the website at Vallejojuneteenth.com or call (707) 322-0147.

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