Music, Dance, Food & More Slated For Danbury Juneteenth Celebration

DANBURY, CT — Juneteenth will be celebrated in Danbury on June 19 from 12-5 p.m. at Western Connecticut State University's Midtown Campus on 181 White Street.

The event's theme will be "Honoring our Heritage: Forging the Future," which garnered the most votes by Danbury residents.

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the abolition of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. This was two and a half years after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which had become official January 1, 1863.

Last year, the United States Senate voted unanimously on a resolution to make Juneteenth an American federal holiday. The Senate resolution officially establishes June 19th as "Juneteenth National Independence Day." The day after the Senate passed the resolution, the United States House of Representatives also approved the resolution and President Biden signed the bill into law.

"Juneteenth almost always focused on education and self-improvement, with a range of activities provided to entertain the masses, many of which continue in tradition today," said Glenda Armstrong, president of Greater Danbury NAACP.

Connecticut R&B singer Rahsaan Langley will be the musical headliner. There will be live entertainment by D.J. Frank Stewart and other music and dance performances by local artists, such as hip hop artist D.J. Gaines, with more being added. Cultural and Historical Activities will include a Juneteenth exhibit and walking tour by the Danbury Museum; "Liberation" Juneteenth Visual Arts Celebration sponsored by the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut; and a panel discussion featuring education, arts, non-profit sector, corporate and community leaders.

Adjacent to the main area will be a Wellness Center providing free COVID-19 vaccinations and health screenings, a "Kids Corner" with children's activities, local vendors, informational resources, and a variety of food truck options. As Juneteenth falls on Father's Day this year, the celebration will also honor fathers with swag bags and other tokens of appreciation.

The event is being sponsored by the WCSU Racial Justice Coalition.

Admission is free and open to the public. Pre-registration online here is preferred, but not a requirement. Those interested in volunteering, becoming a vendor or corporate sponsor can contact the Danbury Juneteenth Coalition at DanburyJune19@gmail.com or on Facebook @DanburyJuneteenth.