Juneteenth Celebrations Scheduled In Bucks County

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — Juneteenth celebrations will be taking place throughout Bucks County this weekend and next weekend.

The celebration kicks off in Doylestown on Saturday, June 15 at the Mercer Museum in Doylestown and continues on Sunday, June 16 at Washington Crossing Historic Park before concluding on June 22 at the Mayor's Park in Langhorne.

Doylestown Borough

The public is invited to the third annual Juneteenth celebration in the heart of the Doylestown Cultural District on Saturday, June 15 from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year's theme is "Back To Roots," which will commemorate the anniversary of June 19, 1865, when the last enslaved people in the United States learned that they had been freed.

The museum will celebrate the occasion with speakers, live performances, musicians, a DJ, food trucks, vendors and artisans, family-friendly crafts and activities, and free admission to the Mercer Museum.

The event opens at 10 a.m. with community yoga with Yogamyx followed by opening remarks at 11:15 a.m. and DJ Ray beginning at 11:3o a.m. At 1 p.m., historian Pat Mervine will reveal "The Untold History of Bucks County."

At 1:20 p.m., Dr. Monique Gary will speak on "Black Community Health" and at 1:40 p.m. Vanessa Stay Ma will discuss mental health care in the black community. A scholarship presentation is scheduled at 2 p.m. and at 2:50 p.m. Step and Stroll will perform.

The event is free to the public and will be held rain or shine.

Parking is limited at the Mercer Museum, and guests are asked to use the $1 per day Bucks County Parking Garage located at Broad & Court Streets in downtown Doylestown. A free DART Bus shuttle will run a continuous loop between the Mercer Museum and the garage between 10
a.m. and 5 p.m. Street parking is also available and all local rules apply.

Washington Crossing

In honor of Juneteenth, Washington Crossing Historic Park will host several free events and activities on Sunday, June 23 from 3 to 7 p.m. Visitors will learn about the contributions of Black American soldiers during the Revolutionary War and Civil War as well as what Juneteenth is
and why its legacy is important today.

From 3 to 4 p.m., the park presents lectures by Noah Lewis and 1st Sgt. Algernon Ward Jr.

Lewis, a living historian and portrayer of “Ned Hector," a black revolutionary war hero, will shar the contributions of black soldiers during the revolution. Ward, a historical reenactor and president of the 6th Regiment United States Colored Troops, will be presenting on the contributions of black soldiers during the Civil War, Juneteenth, and its legacy.

Living history will be presented from 4 to 5 p.m. followed by a two hour performance from 5 to 7 p.m. by The Quake Band, a Philadelphia based, premier high energy dance band offering live musical entertainment. Bloomberg is once again the event sponsor.

Langhorne Borough

The African American Museum of Bucks County will hold a free family-friendly festival on June 22 to celebrate the Juneteenth holiday.

AAMBC will hold the event at Mayor’s Park in Langhorne from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 22. The event will include educational speakers, live music, kid-friendly activities and games, food trucks, and more.

The AAMBC is actively seeking vendors from the greater Bucks County, Philadelphia, and other neighboring communities for the event. Vendors’ specialties can range anywhere from local businesses, arts organizations, non-profits, educational institutions, or groups, etc. The museum is also seeking volunteers to help with set-up and participation during the event.

"We could not be more excited to throw a Juneteenth celebration for our community. As the first African American Museum in Bucks County, we are well positioned to host this free community festival, that commemorates an extremely important event in American history,” said Linda Salley, president, and executive director of the African American Museum of Bucks County.

The AAMBC Boone Farm Capital Campaign whose current fundraising goal is $2 million, is diligently working to transform Boone Farm, a historic 1717 stone building in Langhorne, into an operating museum where we can share, they can continue to share untold stories and hidden figures of Bucks County.

Through engaging exhibitions, educational programs, and community outreach, the museum celebrates the contributions and stories of African Americans, fostering a deeper understanding of their legacy within the region. All contributions are tax-deductible under the law.