Erie's Juneteenth celebration events include art exhibit, painting, networking, block party

Dana Massing, Erie Times-News
Updated ·3 min read
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Erie will celebrate Juneteenth with a downtown Block Party again, but this year's event is moving to Perry Square.

The Facebook page for Erie's Juneteenth Celebration announced that the festivities will be held on both the east and west sides of Perry Square, which is bigger and more accessible than the 1200 block of State Street where the 2022 event was held.

The entertainment, which will include headliner The Breeze Band, and vendors will be located on the west side of Perry Square and a kids zone and activities will be on the east side, Angela McNair, Erie's Juneteenth Celebration coordinator, said in an email to the Erie Times-News.

"This is not only a heritage festival but a celebration of freedom in the African American community," McNair said. "It is also a chance to support minority-owned businesses and learn more about the culture. This year, we will also be honoring some of the longtime trailblazers in the African American community."

What is Juneteenth?

In 2021, President Joe Biden signed into law the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, which created a new legal public holiday. It was the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was approved in 1983.

The holiday's name is a combination of "June" and "nineteenth," the date in 1865 on which federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed enslaved African Americans that they were free and the Civil War had ended.

This file photo shows the original Emancipation Proclamation on display in the Rotunda of the National Archives in Washington. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation declaring all slaves free in Confederate territory.
This file photo shows the original Emancipation Proclamation on display in the Rotunda of the National Archives in Washington. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation declaring all slaves free in Confederate territory.

Technically, the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 had freed enslaved people in the rebelling states, including Texas, and the war had ended in April 1865. But some African Americans were still being held in slavery in Texas and didn't know of the war's end until the arrival of U.S. Gen. Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865.

For subscribers: Erie man discovers early Underground Railroad station and once-enslaved couple who ran it

The day has become not only a celebration of freedom, but also of African American history, culture and achievements.

Celebrations around Erie

Several Juneteenth events are planned in Erie.

Juneteenth Celebration of the Arts: June 15, 5-8 p.m., 315 E. Ninth St. The Historical Institute of Culture and the African American Experience will host an exhibition and show featuring artistic works created for, by and in honor of people of color. Artists will be present and works will be available for purchase. Learn more at https://bit.ly/JuneteenthCelebrationoftheArts.

Create & Paint: June 15, 7-9 p.m., Grand Central Events, 1225 State St. Special painting event with Woodard Dynasty Entertainment; African print attire is encouraged. The cost to attend is $20. Learn more at www.facebook.com/WoodardDynastyEnt.

Networking Mixer: June 16, 6-10 p.m., Meiser Place, 21-23 W. 10th St. This is an Erie's Black Wall Street event to celebrate Black entrepreneurship and community with music, food and drinks. Tickets are $75. Learn more and register at www.eriesblackwallstreet.org/events.

Block Party: June 17, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Perry Square. Hosted by Erie's Juneteenth Celebration with help from the Booker T. Washington Center and Erie's Black Wall Street, this event will feature entertainment, food trucks, vendors with clothing, jewelry, unique and custom items, and more. Performers will include The Breeze Band and Vibe Queenz. Admission is free; prices for food and other items vary. Learn more at https://bit.ly/ErieJuneteenthCelebration.

Where to learn more

The Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History & Culture has information about Juneteenth at nmaahc.si.edu.

The National Park Service has information about "Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom" at www.nps.gov/articles/juneteenth-origins.htm.

Watch the White House ceremony at which Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law, including comments from Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black American to be elected vice president, at www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUjBhwFcQ4U.

Dana Massing can be reached at dmassing@timesnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie's 2023 Juneteenth celebration includes art show, block party, more