Here are some of the ways the Milwaukee area is celebrating Juneteenth this year
Juneteenth is a special holiday that honors the enslaved African-Americans who were freed on June 19, 1865. Black communities across the country usually gather to celebrate this holiday in various ways. Here in Milwaukee, Juneteenth is home to one of the oldest celebrations in the country and it's often celebrated with a parade and street festival.
This year's Milwaukee Juneteenth Day Celebration will run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 19, at West Locust Street and North King Drive, with a parade from 9 to 11 a.m.
Here are some ways adults and children can participate in Juneteenth activities in the Milwaukee area:
Milwaukee's Juneteenth festival will include a mobile skating rink, horse rides and games
Homer Blow is the music and program director of his nonprofit organization, the Homer Blow Foundation Inc. To celebrate Juneteenth, the foundation will partner with WestCare Wisconsin and Bader Philanthropies Inc. to bring children a mobile skating rink and music in the Kids Zone at the city's festival.
Blow is expecting thousands of children to try the rink during the festival.
"I'm super-excited because I'll be working with one of my biggest passions — children and families," he said.
Blow said he realizes the challenges children in Milwaukee may face, like violence and homelessness. But he's optimistic that there are ways to change the narrative.
"It's important to bring back the morals, values and fun that children are supposed to be experiencing at the developmental stages of their life," he said.
Other activities in the Kids Zone will include horse rides, games and costumed characters.
Your child can participate in these activities from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 19 on the playground of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School, 3275 N. King Drive.
Milwaukee will have an arts and culture contest for Juneteenth
TRUE Skool Inc. is a nonprofit organization on Milwaukee's north side that focuses on using using art and hip-hop as tools to educate and engage youth . At 9 a.m. on June 19, a live arts and culture contest will be held in front of the Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Place between North King Drive and Ring Street.
Fidel Verdin, the co-executive director of the organization, was excited about TRUE Skool being a participant of the historical event.
"People get to witness the start of the blank canvases, the process, the teamwork and then the beautiful completion of original masterpieces," he said.
According to Verdin, the contest usually features up to 12 competing artists, but all artists are welcome to register for a chance to win over $2,000 in cash prizes.
There will be face-painting, along with interactive paint walls for hundreds of children and adults to add onto throughout the day.
The theme of this year's contest will be "Our History, Our Culture, Our Village" and Verdin hopes to see the continuation of Juneteenth represented in art as it gives everyone a creative outlet to be free.
"Our live art demonstrations are designed to uplift our community stories and get people talking about our collective history," he said.
Hear spoken word performances, access free resources at Gospel Fest 2024 in Wauwatosa
To celebrate Juneteenth in the Wauwatosa area, Higher Dimension HD Radio LLC will host a Juneteenth Gospel Fest that's free for all from noon to 7 p.m. June 22 on the Rotary Stage at Hart Park.
Organizers said in a statement that it was unique to celebrate Juneteenth this way.
"This is the only festival of its kind in the community to honor our ancestors, celebrate African and African American cultural heritage, unite our diverse community, and connect residents with resources and services," the statement said.
Pastor Ellis Murchison Jr. will be present to lead the Gospel Fest opening prayer, and then festivities will kick off, including spoken word performances, free community resources and more.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Juneteenth 2024 celebrations and festivals in Milwaukee, Wauwatosa
