Juneteenth honors African Americans who helped to build this great nation. This year marks the 161st anniversary of the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas finally learned they were free - it is the oldest celebration to mark the final end of slavery.
After the Emancipation Proclamation was issued to free American slaves in the Confederate states in 1863, it took a while for slaves in isolated areas to hear the news. Some slave owners intentionally kept word from those they had enslaved so they would not flee. But, on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers reached Galveston, Texas to deliver the message that the war was over so all slaves would know of their freedom.
The Juneteenth National Independence Act establishing June 19 as a federal holiday was signed in 2021. The day's celebrations often included prayer and religious serves, educational events, family gatherings, and events with food, music, and dancing. It is a reminder of the long fight for freedom and the work we must continue to do to build a better future with liberty and justice for all.
Thanks to our friends at LAL Today, here are a few of the Juneteeth festivities in Polk County:
Juneteenth Comedy Show | Friday, June 19 | 9 p.m. | Stage Room | $15 | Head to this underground venue for a hilarious show hosted by Lakeland Comedy.
Juneteenth Celebration | Saturday, June 20 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Winter Haven Recreation & Cultural Center | Free+ | This community center just opened in the spring, and it's the new home of this annual event featuring live music and a vendor market.
Juneteenth Freedom Festival | Saturday, June 27 | 1-6 p.m. | Simpson Park Community Center | Free+ | Don't miss entertainment and historical exhibits at Lakeland's biggest festival.
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