Juneteenth Celebration Week in the Tri-Cities
Celebrate freedom and community at the longest-running Juneteenth celebration program in Washington state!
Juneteenth, also known as "Freedom Day" or "Emancipation Day," commemorates the emancipation of African American slaves and is now a federal holiday in the United States. The name combines "June" and "nineteenth," marking the day in 1865 when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce the end of the Civil War and the freedom of enslaved African Americans. This announcement enforced the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. The first Juneteenth celebration occurred in 1866 with festivities, food, and spiritual readings. Today, Juneteenth is celebrated globally and became a national holiday in the U.S. in 2021.
Juneteenth in the Tri-Cities
Today, Juneteenth Tri-Cities is the longest running celebration program in the State of Washington! The Tri-Cities has celebrated Juneteenth for over 47 years. In 1977, a group of families, transplants here from Texas, celebrated the occasion with an annual picnic celebration in Kurtzman Park in Pasco. From its small roots as a picnic, Juneteenth in the Tri-Cities now includes multiple events that span the week of the holiday!
The weekend kicks off on Friday with the Miss Juneteenth scholarship program, which aims to uplift young African American women, instill confidence and a sense of belonging, and support them in reaching their full potential.
Saturday is the Juneteenth Festival, with a parade and celebrations in Kurtzman Park. On Juneteenth Day, the Day of Service event is held in Kurtzman Park, followed by a Skate Party at the Rollarena Skating Center in Richland. Juneteenth is a time of celebration, and the Day of Service is a time of giving back and service to the community, with resources like mental health information, a clothing drive, food boxes provided to address food insecurity, and free haircuts from local barbers.
The Day of Service means a lot to Juneteenth Tri-Cities Committee Director Irving Brown, Sr., as it’s the same day as Freedom Day: “I call it when the ‘Great Release’ happened, and we are celebrating and giving back.” He encourages those with resources, contacts, or special skills to contact him to sign up and get involved. “I like to say, ‘Get in where you fit in.’”
“This Juneteenth is going to be awesome; the parade is going to be awesome. It’s so that we all get a grasp of why we’re in the park, and why we’re celebrating.”
2024 Juneteenth Events
Join the Juneteenth celebrations from Friday, June 14th, to Saturday, June 22nd, 2024. We hope to see you there!
Friday, June 14th:
The Miss Juneteenth Scholarship Program at Chiawana High School in Kennewick at 6:00 PM.
Saturday, June 15th:
Juneteenth Festival, with the parade starting at 10 AM at Kurtzman Park, followed by celebrations in the park from 11 AM.
Wednesday, June 19th:
Skate Party at Rollarena Skating Center in Richland, WA: 4-7 PM (ages 15 and under), 7-10 PM (ages 16 and up).
Day of Service at Kurtzman Park from 11 AM to 1 PM.
Saturday, June 22nd:
Juneteenth Worship Service at New Movement Church in Pasco at 11:00am.
How to Get Involved
All are invited and encouraged to join in the Juneteenth celebrations!
Those who want to get involved to support with resources or information can contact Juneteenth’s Committee Director, Irving Brown Sr. directly at juneteenthcommitteetricitieswa@gmail.com.
Want to learn more? Check out Tri-Cities Juneteenth Community Council on Facebook here.
