The Riverside Press-Enterprise
Juneteenth festival is a cultural celebration
More events marking the holiday continue today in the region
Hundreds celebrated Juneteenth on Saturday by enjoying live entertainment, food and assorted family fun at San Manuel Stadium in downtown San Bernardino.
The 2nd Annual Juneteenth Soul Festival highlighted Black culture and showcased Blackowned businesses for crowds marking the day in 1865 when enslaved people living in Galveston, Texas, during the Civil War first learned they were free.
The name combines June and Nineteenth.
Established as a federal holiday last year, June 19 was declared a holiday in San Bernardino County last month.
Presented by Black & Vaxxed/ Young Enough to Know, the allday soul festival in downtown San Bernardino was but one Juneteenth celebration planned this weekend in the Inland Empire.
Juneteenth events continue today and Monday in the region:
Today, the city will celebrate the holiday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. with music, raffles, games, a kid’s corner and a Father’s Day Poetry Contest at the Circle City Center, 365 N. Main St.
In Redlands, a parade kicks off Juneteenth at 9 a.m. today at Sylvan Park. After the parade, the city and community groups will hold a flag ceremony followed by poetry reading, then a church service at 11 a.m. and a music festival from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the park.
From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday in Pomona, the African American Advisory Alliance is hosting a freedom ride beginning at the African American Museum, 1460 W. Holt Blvd., where cars will be decorated before heading to downtown Pomona for a ribbon-cutting at the Alliance Community Cultural Center, 406 W. Second St. The event will highlight Black creators and educators in the region, followed by a drum circle.