Our 3rd Annual Juneteenth Event will be held on Wednesday June 19th from 11 to 4 on Town Hill in Colonial Beach, co-hosted by Coming to the Table CBVA, the Colonial Beach Parks, Recreation, & Events Department, the A.T. Johnson Museum, and the Stratford Hall Historic Preserve. Donate to this event or become a Sponsor using our FB Fundraiser here https://www.facebook.com/donate/440985078371440/.
Juneteenth commemorates the end of legalized slavery, marking the day in June 1865 when Major General Gordon Grander ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas. Originating in Galveston in 1866, “Juneteenth” has been observed in many locations around the county to celebrate Freedom and African American Culture. In 2020, Juneteenth became a State Holiday in Virginia and in 2021, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act was signed into law making June 19th a Federal Holiday.
Here in Colonial Beach, our local Juneteenth Event celebrates freedom AND recognizes the contributions of enslaved people and their descendants throughout our Northern Neck History with music, dancing, storytelling, drumming, and the spoken word. Formal presentations from the Town Stage will run from 12 to 2, followed by more music and dancing from 2 to 4. Cultural, educational, and vendor exhibits will be set up on Town Hill and open to the public from 11 to 4.
Visit the Facebook Event Page for more information at https://www.facebook.com/events/769924135105042/