The Delaware Juneteenth Association is marking its 25th anniversary by bringing back its Juneteenth parade— which was on hold for years because of a lack of funding.
The Freedom Parade and Festival is Saturday at 11 a.m. in Wilmington, beginning at Kirkwood Park and ending at Christina Park.
“This year, it being our 25th, we are all-out with our activities,” said Sandy Clark, one of the founding members of the Delaware Juneteenth Association. “As a matter of fact, we have six activities in the month of June. That said, we are doing activities just about every week.”
Juneteenth is celebrated on June 19, the day news of the Emancipation Proclamation reached slaves in Galveston, Texas, in 1865— two and a half years after it went into effect.
“It’s a celebration just like the Fourth of July to us,” said Clark.
The Delaware Juneteenth Association held its first Juneteenth flag raising ceremony earlier this month, along with the annual male talent showcase and female pageant, which includes teaching participants about African American history.
“You don’t know where you’re going unless you know where you came from,” said Clark.
The Juneteenth observance is this Wednesday at Resurrection Center in Wilmington. The festivities will conclude next weekend with a scholarship gala for showcase and pageant contestants.
