Each year the City of Bloomington Community and Family Resources Department collaborates with the Indiana University Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center and Ivy Tech Community College for the Juneteenth Freedom Celebration. Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond.
Events and activities commemorating the 2009 Juneteenth Freedom Celebration will take place on Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27, 2009. There are many fun and educational activities planned for the entire family. Activities planned for Friday, June 26th, include an opening reception at 6:00 p.m. in the Bridgwaters Lounge of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, 275 N. Jordon Avenue on the IU-Bloomington Campus; a Juneteenth King and Queen Pageant at 6:30 p.m. in the Wells-Metz Theatre of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center; and the recognition of recipients of the 2009 Unsung Heroes Awards.
On Saturday, June 27th, a parade will begin at 10:00 a.m. at the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, which will come to an end at Bryan Park, 1001 S. Henderson Street, where a JuneTeenth Freedom Celebration will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for the entire community. The celebration will include musical performances, keynote speaker presentations, open mic, arts and crafts activities, games, a storyteller, a children's booth, face painting, vendor and information booths, food and refreshments, and much more. A 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament will also be held, sponsored by the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, which run from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; for more information, please call 812-855-9271. More details will continue to be available by visiting the Indiana University web pages on Juneteenth 2009.
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