Juneteenth in Pensacola will be celebration for all, with festivals, food and unity
Come July, we'll celebrate the nation's freedom and independence.
But on Juneteenth, we celebrate the freedom and independence of the nation's people. All of its people.
And, actually, we'll be celebrating on Juneteenth − June 19th, as well as the days leading up to the newest federal holiday which commemorates the date in 1865 when Union Gen. Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, and announced that all enslaved people in Texas were free.
President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Emancipation Proclamation ending legal slavery in the United States two years earlier. Enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation usually came with the advance of Union troops into a region, and Texas, the most remote outpost of the Confederacy, was the last to formally receive the news of freedom for all.
Florida received the news on May 20, 1865, just a few weeks before the Texas announcement. Pensacola now celebrates Florida's Emancipation Day, as does much of Florida. But the nation celebrates Juneteenth − it became a federal holiday in 2021 − and there are plenty of ways to celebrate, commemorate and observe the holiday here in Pensacola:
Watson Family Foundation's 4th annual Juneteenth: A Family Reunion for the Culture Festival, noon to 6 p.m., June 14 at Museum Plaza, 300 S. Tarragona St. The free event will feature live entertainment and presentations, a sweet potato pie contest, domino and spades tournaments, line dancing, dramatic presentations, a scholarship presentation, food, vendors and much more. Details: www.watsonfamilyfoundation.com.
Juneteenth Celebration at the University of West Florida, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 16 at the UWF Commons Auditorium. The free event will feature speakers, history presentations, live musical performances and more.
Bruce Beach Kayak Tour: Journey to Juneteenth, 9:30 a.m. to noon, June 18, 601 W. Main St. Hosted by the UWF Archaeology Institute and the Florida Public Archaeology Network, those with their own kayaks are invited to join on a free tour of Bruce Beach near the historic Tanyard neighborhood, long a home for Black and Creole folks, as well as immigrants and others. Though there is no cost, tickets are required and can be acquired at www.eventbrite.com/e/kayak-tour-bruce-beach-tickets-1393000986449.
Five Sisters' Blues Cafe Juneteenth Celebration, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., June 19, 421 W. Belmont St., in the heart of the historic Belmont-DeVilliers neighborhood − a historic neighborhood known for its African American history, music, food and culture. Chef Josh Rich will present a menu featuring barbecued fried ribs, Southern catfish bites, and more. Details: www.fivesistersbluescafe.com.
UnityFest 2025 − A Community Celebration of Freedom, noon to 4 p.m., June 19, Adoration for a New Beginning Church, 920 W. Government St. A celebration of African American culture for all, featuring live music, a kids zone, free food and more. Details can be found on the Unity Fest 2025 Facebook events page.
Gallery Night - Juneteenth: The Art of Freedom, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. June 20, Palafox Place. More than 70 art vendors will line the street during the festive monthly street celebration, along with music, food and more with a focus on Juneteenth and African American culture. Details: www.gallerynightpensacola.org.
Plenty of options to celebrate. And that, truly, is what Juneteenth is all about.
"They didn't know they were free," said Barbara Wells, president of the UWF Black Employees Association, which is sponsoring the UWF event. "This celebrates when they found out they were free. It's almost a birthday celebration of that freedom."
Kimberly Watson, president of the Watson Family Foundation, said last year's annual Juneteenth: Family Reunion for the Culture Festival attracted about 3,000 people, from "all walks of life, ages and ethnicities."
"It's a way to celebrate culture," she said. "But it's also a celebration of freedom where we can reflect on the past and look forward to the future."
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Juneteenth in Pensacola includes festivals, food, unity celebration
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