Erie's Juneteenth Celebration

Nick Warren

Erie's Juneteenth celebration will encompass three days of events including a Create and Paint event, an Erie's Black Wall Street networking mixer, and a block party featuring the music of the Breeze Band.

BEGINNING THURSDAY JUN. 15

Juneteenth is an annual commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States — the first Juneteenth being celebrated on June 19, 1865 when enslaved people in Texas were the last to be informed about the Emancipation Proclamation that went into effect two years prior. This year, in Erie, Juneteenth will be celebrated with a three-day slate of activities from June 15 - 17. The event is made possible by the work of Erie's Juneteenth Celebration committee, The Booker T. Washington Center, and Erie's Black Wall Street with support from the Robert Benjamin Wiley Charter School, African American Concerned Clergy, and the NAACP.

Yearly event organizer Angela McNair comments, "One of the main celebrations that occurs in the African American community is Erie's Juneteenth Celebration. This is an annual cultural celebration located in downtown Erie that celebrates the culture as well as supports local minority owned businesses. This year it will be held in the heart of the city. The celebration gives us a chance to experience local Black history in the making."

The event kicks off on Thursday, June 15 at Woodard Dynasty Entertainment/Grand Central Events at 1225 State St. for a "Create and Paint" gathering from 7 to 9 p.m. On Friday, June 16, there will be an Erie's Black Wall Street networking mixer at Meiser Place at 23 W. 10th St. from 6 to 10 p.m. which will allow minority business owners a chance to meet and connect with others from around the city. The main Juneteenth event will take place on Saturday, June 17 with a party in Perry Square (both east and west sides, with State Street closed to traffic) from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. that will feature the timeless grooves of the Breeze Band along with vendors, food, drinks, and giveaways. 

Thursday, Jun. 15 through Saturday, Jun. 17 // Various times and locations, main event in Perry Square, 601 State St. // For more information email eriesjuneteenthcelebration@gmail.com or follow Erie's Juneteenth Celebration on Facebook