Juneteenth celebrations and events happening
A number of Juneteenth celebrations and activities are being held in the area this week, commemorating the historic end of slavery in the United States.
• The City of Southfield is hosting several Juneteenth celebration activities, kicking off with a ceremonial raising of the Juneteenth flag at 5:30 p.m. June 15, at the circle drive in front of City Hall, 26000 Evergreen Road. The Southfield Public Library & Friends of the Library Juneteenth Programs are June 15-17.
• A special Juneteenth Jazz and Blues concert at the Southfield Public Library, 6-8:30 p.m. June 15, featuring African American artist DeAnna Victoria and vendors; A Timeline in Dance featuring Body Rhythm Dance Theatre Youth Troupe is 5:306:15 p.m., June 16; and Jean Alicia Elster presents How It Happens: Collecting Oral Histories, 2-3 p.m. June 17, southfieldlibrary.org.
• Join Southfield Mayor Ken Siver for the Mayor’s Juneteenth Walk at 10 a.m. June 18, beginning at the Southfield Municipal Campus front circle for a 2.5 mile walk to the Red Pole Park and back to City Hall. Southfield Parks & Recreation Juneteenth Celebration is noon-9 p.m. June 18 on the Municipal Campus front lawn, featuring speakers, performances, bounce houses, crafts, games for youth, and food to purchase, www.cityofsouthfield.com.
• Several Juneteenth events are taking place in Pontiac: 5-9 p.m. June 17, 1-9 p.m. June 18, and 1-8 p.m. June 19, Johnson Street to Oneida St. in Pontiac. Art displays, music stage, inflatables, climbing wall, For information, call Welcome Missionary Baptist Church at 248-335-8740. The Juneteenth Parade is at 1 p.m. June 19, to participate or for information, call 586701-0431.
• Madison Heights Annual Juneteenth celebration is noon-6 p.m. June 18, at Civic Center Park, 360 W. 13 Mile Road, Madison Heights. The festival will feature food trucks, vendor booths, children’s activities, a petting zoo, rib cooking competition, art show, storytelling, educational exhibits, and re-enactments by the Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Association of Detroit. Also live music, including Grammy-Awardwinning funk group Raydio featuring Arnell Carmichael, The IV Horsemen, and Smoke Jones Detroit Band, all concerts are free, Madisonheightsjuneteenth. com.
• Lathrup Village is hosting Juneteenth- 2nd Annual “Unity in the Community,” noon to 4 p.m. June 18, at Municipal Park, 27400 Southfield Road, Lathrup Village, featuring bounce houses, games, vendors, music, ballroom lessons, artwork, food trucks, lathrupvillage.org.
• A Juneteenth celebration “That Day of Jubilation” featuring dramatic reading theater is 2 p.m. June 18, outdoors at Bowens Senior Citizens Center, 52 Bagley St., Pontiac, with a food truck, bowens-center.edan.io, 248-758-3240.
• A Juneteenth celebration is 4-8 p.m. Sunday, June 19, at Centennial Commons, at Troy and Third in downtown Royal Oak, family-friendly activities, including music, games, performances, food trucks, vendors and giveaways. If inclement weather, activities will be moved into the Royal Oak Farmers Market, www.romi.gov, free.
• A Juneteenth celebration, “A Short History of two of the Founding Black Families in Royal Oak Township” is 2-4 p.m. June 19, at the Royal Oak Historical Society Museum, at the Northwood Firestation, 1411 Webster Road, Royal Oak, museum admission is free, donations welcome, royaloakhistoricalsociety.com.
• Cranbrook Art Museum to host Juneteenth Free Gallery Sunday Admission, 11 a.m. June 19, at Cranbrook Art Museum, 39221 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills, cranbrookartmuseum.org.
• Emagine Entertainment Juneteenth Film Festival is through June 30, at Emagine Royal Oak and The Rivera Powered by Emagine in Farmington Hills. Tickets are $5 with net ticket proceeds to benefit the UNCF, (United Negro College Fund), Emagine-Entertainment. com.