Juneteenth: Celebrating African American Culture

The 33rd Annual Juneteenth Festival will take place on Saturday, June 14th and Sunday, June 15th at Martin Luther King Jr. Park.  The third largest in the country, Buffalo’s Juneteenth Festival preserves and promotes the broad spectrum of African American heritage through educational and cultural activities that will benefit the community as a whole.  A celebration of African-American culture and the ending of slavery, this fun-filled weekend is packed with activities for the entire family. 

The weekend starts off with a Praise & Worship on Saturday from 9-11 a.m. and is followed by the 11 a.m. Juneteenth Parade.  After the parade, festivities will take place in the park including Main Stage entertainment, Arts and Culture Stage, Vendor’s Market, Food Court, Health Pavilion, Family Portrait Booth, Drill Team Exhibitions, Basketball, Book Fair, Historical Exhibits, Children’s Activities, Underground Railroad Tours and more!  On Sunday, the Praise & Worship runs 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. with festivities again until 8 p.m.

Juneteenth is the oldest known observance of the ending of slavery in the United States. According to historical records, the celebration began on June 19, 1865, the day Major General Gordon Granger of the Union Army rode into Galveston, Texas in final execution of the Emancipation Proclamation.  For more information, visit www.juneteenthofbuffalo.com or call 716-891-8801