On June 15, 2024 the Champaign Park District hosted their Annual Juneteenth Celebration at Douglass Park. Juneteenth commemorates the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States.
This year’s celebration had numerous collaborators to make the day a success. Dozens of vendors across the community participated with booths and the event featured performances from the Ujima Freedom School, the Perfect Timing Dance Team, and music from Haki-N-Dem. The sun was shinning, the music flowing, and Kona Ice offered free shaved ice treats to attendees trying to beat the heat. The Stango Bites food truck and Brother George’s Barbeque were on deck to provide delicious and culturally relevant cuisine. The Equity and Engagement Department was honored to assist with funding this event and a number of staff from Planning and Development, Neighborhood Services, and of course, Mayor Feinen, were in attendance!