Juneteenth activities planned in local parks
Juneteenth, now a federal holiday in the United States, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans at the end of the Civil War.
The holiday is on the anniversary of an order issued June 19, 1865, by Union Army Gen. Gordon Granger, proclaiming freedom for enslaved people in Texas. This year it falls on a Sunday; East Bay Regional Park District offices will be closed on June 20 in observance, though of course the parks will remain open. Activities celebrating Juneteenth are planned in three regional parks. All three programs are drop-in; no registration is required.
One is a Juneteenth Celebration Hike from 10 to 11:30 a.m. June 19 at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont, led by naturalist Maeron Yeshiwas. During the hike, Maeron will discuss Black contributions throughout history in the fields of science, conservation and art. Meet at the visitor center.
Parent participation is required. Masks are also recommended and social distancing must be maintained. Coyote Hills is at the end of Patterson Ranch Road off Paseo Padre Parkway. There's a parking fee of $5 per vehicle. For information, call 510-544-3220.
Nearby at Ardenwood Historic Farm, you can play baseball, a Juneteenth tradition, in a program from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. June 19. Naturalist David Cohen will preside and talk about the history of America's second Independence Day. Ardenwood admission will be waived in honor of Juneteenth, and parking is free. The park is at 34600 Ardenwood Blvd. in Fremont, just north of Highway 84. For information, call 510-544-2792.
And since Juneteenth is also Father's Day this year, the Crab Cove Visitor Center in Alameda will celebrate the double holiday with crafts and other activities between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on June 19. Craft activity will be ongoing, and there will be a story circle at the start of every hour. Crab Cove is at 1253 McKay Ave. off Alameda's Central Avenue. For information, call 510544-3187.
FITNESS CLASSES >> The park district and Regional Parks Foundation are sponsoring free online Wellness & Fitness classes from 5 to 6 p.m. every Thursday in June in celebration of Juneteenth and LGBTQ+ Pride Month.
The program June 23 is a Cardio Dance Party, and on June 30 it's Zumba. For more information, visit bayareane.ws/3HrOGat online. By the way, for the park district's interpretation of the symbolism behind the LGBTQ+ rainbow flag, visit bayareane.ws/3xoyi5B online.
BERKELEY >> Reptiles are the focus of a program from 11:30 a.m. to noon June 19 at the Environmental Education Center in Tilden Nature Area near Berkeley with naturalist Jenna Collins. Find out what turtles eat, how snakes move and what scales feel like while meeting a couple of the center's reptile residents.
Then from 3:30 to 4 p.m. you can join Jenna and help to close the adjacent Little Farm for the night and put the animals to bed. Meet at the chicken coop for a variety of age-appropriate activities.
Both programs are free of charge, and registration is not required. The center and farm are at the north end of Tilden's Central Park
Drive. Masks are required. For information, call 510544-2233.
OAKLEY >> June 21 is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. The naturalists at Big Break Visitor Center in Oakley will mark it with a free, drop-in program from 7:30 to 9 p.m., an evening exploration of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Big Break is at 69 Big Break Road off Oakley's Main Street. For information, call 510-5443050.
ANTIOCH >> There's also a summer solstice walk with a naturalist from 2 to 3 p.m. June 22 at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch. The group will look for signs of summer while walking trails around the old Somersville town site.
Black Diamond Mines is at the end of Somersville Road, 3½ miles south of Highway 4. There's a parking fee of $5 per vehicle. The walk is free, but registration is required. For registration and information, call 888-327-2757, option 2.
LIVERMORE >> Games, crafts and other activities are on the agenda during a Beach Break from 3 to 3:30 p.m. June 19 at Del Valle Regional Park south of Livermore. The park is at the end of Del Valle Road off Mines Road, about 9 miles south of town. The free program is drop-in, but Del Valle charges $6 per vehicle for parking.
ONLINE >> There's always a lot going on in the regional parks. For a complete program list, go to ebparks.org/things-to-do.