'Songs For Our Fathers' Lively Juneteenth Celebrations On Tap

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — New Rochelle is pulling out all the stops for Juneteenth celebrations with special tributes to fathers past and present.

Famed jazz musicians Lakecia Benjamin and Shunzo Ohno will be headlining the "Songs for Our Fathers" Juneteenth concert at New Rochelle City Hall on Father's Day, from noon - 5 p.m.

Sharif Abdus-Salaam, jazz historian and host of "Jazz Alternatives" on WKCR and "TransArt Presents Jazz in the Valley" on WKNY, will be hosting the program.

Be sure to bring your lawn chairs, sit back and get ready to experience the music at this unique outdoor concert.

The Juneteenth celebration will begin at noon with a traditional African Processional with dancers and drummers from the Bokandeye African American Dance Theater, a flag-raising ceremony and a solo of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" by Joi Evans. There will then be remarks by NYS Senator and Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, followed by greetings from County Executive George Latimer and New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson. Community advocate Leslie Gaskin will then present a poem on fatherhood.

The jazz concert will begin with the music of trumpeter Shunzo Ohno and bassist Rocky Middleton. Saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin will then close out the set.

DJSmithyBoy will also be there to spin the tunes.

An African Marketplace with vendors from across the tri-state area selling jewelry, clothing, artwork, fragrances, African-inspired linens, books and more will be on Hamilton Ave., next to City Hall.

Food vendors and food trucks will also be located on Hamilton Ave., including Chef Ed, Matrix On The Go, Taqueria del Valle and Mr. Softee Ice Cream.

The exhibit, "A Tribute to Fathers," currently showing at the Rotunda Gallery at City Hall will be open to the public from noon to 3 p.m. with a reception to meet the artists.

On Monday, June 20, from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., "Olley the Trolley" will take passengers on a "Tour of the Black Enclaves of New Rochelle," narrated by New Rochelle Historian Barbara Davis. Reservations can be made here.

New Rochelle's Juneteenth Celebration - "Songs for Our Fathers" is a community-wide celebration that began on June 4 and will run until June 24. Events have been taking place at eight venues around the city, hosted and produced by nine New Rochelle community organizations/institutions. "Songs for Our Fathers" was created by Linda Tarrant-Reid, Executive Director of the Lincoln Park Conservancy, Inc. The commemoration is in its second year, with plans to continue annually. It is in partnership with the city of New Rochelle and was made possible with support from New Rochelle's IDA, ArtsWestchester, the NRP Group and Westchester County.

The Lincoln Park Conservancy, Inc., a 501c3 New Rochelle-based community organization, has the mission to preserve, document, educate and promote the rich history of the Lincoln Avenue Corridor and its connection, both historically and present-day, to the larger community of the City of New Rochelle and beyond.

More details on Juneteenth events can be found on Facebook or via email.