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Juneteenth is a national holiday that commemorates the ending of slavery.
President Abraham Lincoln announced on September 22, 1862, that any person who is a slave is free now.
Lincoln added that the government “will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.” On June 19, 1865, Black slaves in Texas received late word that slavery had ended. Juneteenth started in Galveston, Texas in the 19th century.
Essentially, they were free. This paved the road for the 13th Amendment ending slavery in America. In June 2021, President Joe Biden signed a law that proclaimed Juneteenth as a federal holiday.
According to the Snohomish County website, It is the “longest-running African American holiday in America.”
Here are some Juneteenth events you can attend:
Snohomish
The NAACP will host a community wide Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Willis D. Tucker Park at 6705 Puget Park Dr., Snohomish. This is a free event and free food will be served.
To learn more, go to https://naacp-snoco.org/
Everett
An Everett Juneteenth event will be Sunday, June 9 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Everett Boys and Girls Club at 2316 12th St. Pitch Black Entertainment will host the event, called Change the Narrative.
The theme is “Black Health and Black Wealth.” There will be “a Black Health / Black Wealth” panel which will include four panelists per subject. Discussions will include “financial literacy, career development, and generational wealth.”
Pitch Black Entertainment’s CEO and Event coordinator, Kendra Montgomery said “community members should expect to join in on activities such as double Dutch, Nerf toy and carnival games, enjoy some shaved ice, face painting, vendors of all sorts from retail to informational and food, all Black-owned.”
DJ Streets will be the DJ.
To be a vendor or volunteer, you can go to Pitch Black Entertainment’s Facebook page.
• On Wednesday, June 19, Faith Tabernacle Fellowship, 9800 Evergreen Way, hosts a community barbecue for Juneteenth from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monroe
Monroe Juneteenth Freedom Day will be Saturday, June 15, noon to 4 p.m., at Sky River Park, 413 Sky River Parkway. There will be dancing, singing, food trucks, vendors, and game activities.
To be a vendor, email vendor@monroeequitycouncil.org or a volunteer, email volunteer@monroeequitycouncil.org
Friendly leashed dogs are welcomed. Organized by Monroe Equity Community.
Around the area
• Lynnwood Juneteenth event: Wednesday, June 19, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Ceder Valley Community School, 19200 56th Ave. West, Lynnwood.
• Kirkland Juneteenth event: Saturday, June 15, noon - 5 p.m., Juanita Beach Park, 9703 NE Juanita Drive, Kirkland.
