Juneteenth Festival Set for June 19th at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Liberia

Juneteenth is a historic celebration among African Americans that honors the announcement of the end of slavery.

On June 19th, 1865 news finally reached Galveston, Texas that African Americans were no longer tied to enslavement which was made official through the emancipation proclamation that was passed more than two years prior on January 1st, 1863. Although the news reached people at different times in the South, folks came to a collective decision to recognize June 19th as a national holiday.

To celebrate, hundreds will gather at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in the historic town of Liberia for the first annual Juneteenth South Broward Festival on Saturday, June 16th.

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“The Fantastic Gospel Sons From Pahokee Florida” will be at the Juneteenth celebration

It is no mistake that the first held Juneteenth Festival will take place in the historic town of Liberia. “Liberia means land of the free, I could not think of a better place to celebrate the meaning of Freedom in Broward,” says Georgette, Hollywood Activist and founding committee member of the festival.

This local event will kick off with a lively parade being led by Junkanoo Dancers and Stiltwalkers which highlight the culture of the area. After the parade, there will gospel performances, artists, motivational speakers and a bounce house for the children.

The goal of this event is to create awareness of this historic holiday, create a safe space for youth, connect organizations with the community and to provide small business owners with a great opportunity to market themselves.

The mission of the South Broward Juneteenth Celebration Committee is to actively preserve and promote the broad spectrum of African American heritage through educational and cultural activities that benefit Liberia, the City of Hollywood and surrounding South Broward communities.

Juneteenth is set for Saturday, June 16th from 10 am – 8 pm at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center 2400 Charleston St., Hollywood, Florida 33020. 

This family and community event is free and open to the public.

For additional questions and inquiries related to becoming a sponsor, vendor or volunteer for South Broward Juneteenth please visit juneteenth.site . 

Correction: original article cited Attucks Middle School as the event venue but there has since been a change in location. The Juneteenth Festival will now be held at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center.

 

 

Picture of Author: Amanda Jones
Author: Amanda Jones

Amanda Jones specializes in content marketing. She holds a Master's degree in Marketing Management from the University of Florida and a Content Manager Professional Certificate from the University of Miami.

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