Marcelena White, with Full Gospel Assembly Spiritual Expressions, performs as HuntingtonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Juneteenth Celebration takes place on June 17, 2023, at Ritter Park in Huntington.
Marcelena White, with Full Gospel Assembly Spiritual Expressions, performs as HuntingtonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Juneteenth Celebration takes place on June 17, 2023, at Ritter Park in Huntington.
HUNTINGTON ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” While President Abraham LincolnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Emancipation Proclamation ending slavery went into effect Jan. 1, 1863, it wasnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t until more than two years later the news reached everyone in the United States.
It wasnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t until the news reached Galveston, Texas when the slaves heard that they were free on June 19, 1865.
Now, in celebration of that event, the Federal Holiday known as Juneteenth, is celebrated throughout the country.
Celebrations of freedom began as early as 1866.
Here in Huntington, Marijayne Crawford, owner of MammusÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ Kitchen and Catering at 1525 9th Ave. in Huntington, will host her fifth annual Juneteenth Celebration. Making it happen with her A QueenÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Dream nonprofit organization, this yearÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s celebration will expand to three days, lasting from June 19-21.
The Juneteenth Festival of Huntington will begin with a Historical Neighborhood Stroll on from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, June 19, beginning at MammusÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ Kitchen.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œTo celebrate my fifth year of doing these Juneteenth events, I decided to add two more days to the schedule,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Crawford said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œOn Thursday, we will do a historic neighborhood stroll ... we will walk over to the Carter G Woodson Memorial Statue. Mr. Woodson is known as the father of Black history. Then, we will hit other community landmarks as well before we head back to MammusÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ Kitchen where we will have refreshments, music, activities for the kids and more.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
The Juneteenth Sparkle and Shine Soiree event is set for Friday night, June 20.
Friday nightÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s event is where folks can dress up and come out for a night of fellowship and fun, Crawford said, as a fundraiser dinner is set to begin at 6 p.m. at Knights of Columbus Hall, 1429 6th Ave. Tickets are $25, and the event is open to the public.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe will have a nice dinner, and then IÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll give a quick history of the A QueenÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Dream nonprofit organization, followed by presenting our important sponsors with their plaques and certificates, and then we will dance the night away and have a good time,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Crawford said.
SaturdayÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Juneteenth celebration runs from noon-6 p.m. at shelter #2 at Ritter Park.
The event will feature food, retail and information vendors and exhibits. For those wanting to buy tickets to the dinner or become a sponsor, call Marijayne Crawford at 681-203-7130.
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