Special performances will include Jahri’s World Children and Families Performance, the Syncopating Sea-Monkeys of River City Jazz Group, Tina B. and the Sacramento Soul Line Dancers and the Confidence is Everything (CIE) Stomp and Shake Performance. Photo courtesy of West Sacramento Parks and Recreation

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - The West Sacramento Parks and Recreation department will hosts its third annual Juneteenth celebration from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. June 13 at the Bridgeway Lake Community Park, 3650 Southport Parkway.

According to the National Museum of African American History, Juneteenth is a significant date in American history and the African American experience as it commemorates the date of June 19, 1865. On this date, General Gordon Granger announced to the people of Texas that all enslaved African Americans were free through President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation executive order. 

 

The celebration of Juneteenth event on June 13, at 3650 Southport Parkway, welcomes residents to come together and recognize the importance of this federal holiday through educating one and another, as well as celebrate as a community. Photo courtesy of West Sacramento Parks and Recreation

The West Sacramento event on June 13 welcomes residents to come together and recognize the importance of this federal holiday through educating one and another, as well as celebrate as a community. It is a free family event that offers activities, music, raffles and performances.

Food will be available from SactoMoFo Corporate Catering that offers a variety of food trucks for attendees to choose from. Free food vouchers for the food trucks will be given out at the start of the event on a first-come, first-served basis.

West Sacramento Parks and Recreation will give out custom Juneteeth bags to the first 200 attendees. According to recreation coordinator Lucy Ramos, the bag includes an art piece that was created by an artist who painted the scene of last year’s celebration in real time.

Community members can listen to spoken word poetry, learn about public resources, shop from local Black-owned businesses such as Anissa’s Art Corner, Nisha Custom Bracelets, He Brews Coffee, Tuskegee Airmen, Face Paint with Paris and Milah’s Storybook Corner. Photo courtesy of West Sacramento Parks and Recreation

Special performances will include Jahri’s World Children and Families Performance, the Syncopating Sea-Monkeys of River City Jazz Group, Tina B. and the Sacramento Soul Line Dancers and the Confidence is Everything (CIE) Stomp and Shake Performance. There will be music provided throughout the event and in between performances from deejay Mariquis.

There will be plenty of free activities available for children, such as face painting, bubble making, and other arts and crafts provided by community groups. The splash ground at Bridgeway Lake Community Park will also be open late for children to cool off and have some aquatic fun.

 

West Sacramento City Council members will be present on June 13 at Bridgeway Lake Community Park for remarks and speeches on the importance of this holiday, as well as give a Juneteenth proclamation. Photo courtesy of West Sacramento Parks and Recreation

Community members can also listen to spoken word poetry, learn about public resources, shop from local Black-owned businesses such as Anissa’s Art Corner, Nisha Custom Bracelets, He Brews Coffee, Tuskegee Airmen, Face Paint with Paris and Milah’s Storybook Corner.

West Sacramento City Council members will give remarks and speeches on the importance of this holiday, as well as give a Juneteenth proclamation.

For any questions about the Juneteenth event at Bridgeway Lake Community Park, contact Recreation Manager Connie Leek at [email protected].