Juneteenth Law passed just in time for Lorain’s Bluesfest

Just in time for Juneteenth, Congress approved a bill to make the celebration of liberation for African Americans a federal holiday.

President Joe Biden signed the legislation into law.

Jeanine Donaldson, organizer of Lorain’s Juneteenth Bluesfest on June 19, said the designation couldn’t have come at a better time.

“It’s exciting ... and that’s very important,” Donaldson said. “I think they see that this is simply about African Americans deciding what their holiday is going to be and the federal government showing support for that.”

Donaldson said she hopes the Bluesfest, which runs from 3-7 p.m., over time will not just be an event for Lorain to enjoy, but recognized county-wide.

“I think it’s important that our county is coming together,” she said. “And, I noticed that with this event, we’ll have resolutions from the mayor of Lorain and the mayor of Elyria.”

The Bluesfest kicks off at 2:45 p.m., with a parade starting at South Lakeview Boulevard with the Da Land Brass Band leading and proceeding to Lakeview Park on West Erie Avenue.

Following the parade will be the invocation and welcoming remarks from Donaldson, Bradley and Whitfield.

An Abraham Lincoln look-alike returns this year to read the Emancipation Proclamation.

Local talent Suga Lee is the vocalist for band Audacity for Sale, who will perform before the Prom Dress Fashion Show.

The exhibits in the Sunset Cafe open at 4 p.m. featuring art by Haley Walton; African American history and culture by Joanne Eldridge Tucker; and Toni Morrison’s private collection hosted by Karen Wootten.

Also inside the Sunset Cafe, Christa Battle will provide the Juneteenth signature dessert of banana pudding, and Lorain County Health District will have a pop-up clinic where event-goers can receive a coronavirus vaccination.

Two outdoor food vendors are scheduled, Uncle Mike’s Food Truck and 216 Vending.

Special appearances will be made by Lorain fashion designer Jevon Terance, a Sojourner Truth reenactor, Team Kareem and the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County, which will provide wellness checks.

There will be a Corvette car show.

Hubb’s Groove band will close out the evening.

In order to make the event more accessible, Donaldson said the committee is partnering with the Lorain County Mobility Management and the Oberlin College Bonner Center to transport people to the event.

“We are partnering with Oberlin to have a trolley that will make stops, in both Elyria and Oberlin, to bring people to Juneteenth Bluesfest,” she said.

Juneteenth is the annual celebration of the end of slavery in the United States and represents the day June 19, 1865, that slaves in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom, two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

“I think it’s important that our county is coming together.” —Jeanine Donaldson, organizer of Lorain’s Juneteenth Bluesfest