Joy, freedom and community — what to know about this year's Juneteenth celebration in Sheboygan
SHEBOYGAN – The Sheboygan Area Black-American Community Outreach’s third Juneteenth celebration will be filled with entertainment, local vendors and community resources.
The nonprofit has a variety of musicians, food and activities scheduled for the event, like a royal court for high school students and a sweet potato pie contest held with Nourish Farms and Sheboygan County Food Bank.
Juneteenth commemorates the day Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to share news of the end of slavery, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. About 250,000 Black Americans enslaved in the state were freed.
"I think it's really putting importance on the celebration of freedom — freedom to be able to do a lot of things in this country," BACO President Toni White said about Juneteenth and the event.
She added the celebration presents an opportunity for Black youth and adults to reflect and learn how their contributions have positively impacted the country.
“That's important," she said. "Celebrating it — that's important."
White said she’s looking forward to a "multitude" of things at Juneteenth, like the collaboration with the Sheboygan Police Department and community resources and the Black Youth Recognition Program.
The program will recognize the achievements and contributions of Black middle and high school students in Sheboygan County. Top nominees will also have a chance to be named to the Juneteenth royal court.
White encourages all community members to attend not only Juneteenth but other cultural celebrations in Sheboygan, too.
"I think you don't know until you engage," she said. "And as long as community members have the opportunity to engage with people from other ethnicities, then there's an opportunity to learn and live in a unified way."
More: Meet Toni White, Sheboygan Area Black-American Community Outreach's new president
Plenty of food, vendors and activities are planned.
BACO connected with more than 30 community partners and 12 local and regional Black-owned businesses. There will also be sports and games and youth and adult activities. Here are just a few of the offerings:
Food: To the Bone BBQ; West Coast Café and Lounge; Clarice’s Sweet Treats Eats, JVR’s Jamaican Jerk Sauce, Spice and Catering
Vendors: God’s Purpose Apparel; Mika’s Sweet Shop; Novee Clothing LLC; King Kaleb Kandy Kastle; Royal Asè Beauty Studios
Entertainment: Joe Jordan & Band; Ko-Thi Drum & Dance Co.; Mizz Bree & Team Nation
Sports and games: Flawless Hoops’ kids' basketball clinic and adult showcase; Midwest Boxing Champions; Sheboygan County Saber Cats football clinic and game
Youth activities: arts and crafts; games; book readings and plantings with Bookworm Gardens
Adult activities: art with John Michael Kohler Arts Center and EBCO Artworks
Mayor Ryan Sorenson will speak and Pastor Jeff Madison of Love Fellowship Outreach Ministries, Inc. will lead a prayer at the opening ceremony. BACO will also announce its board of directors at the event.
Juneteenth hosted at Kiwanis Park June 18
The celebration will be held at Kiwanis Park noon-5 p.m. June 18.
More: ‘I felt like I had to do this’: A Q&A with soon-to-be Sheboygan County Judge Natasha Torry
Contact Alex Garner at 224-374-2332 or agarner@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @alexx_garner.
This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Sheboygan Juneteenth celebration at Kiwanis Park offers food, vendors
