Rochester's 2023 Juneteenth celebration returns June 17. What to know

Rochester's 2023 Juneteenth celebration happens June 17, announced the committee in charge of planning the festivities.

Tuesday morning, Jazz music from Justice Freeman's trumpet filled MLK Memorial Park Lodge on Court Street as the Juneteenth Festival planning committee revealed the schedule and declared that this year's theme is 50 years of hip-hop and a lifetime of freedom.

"History informs the future," Mayor Malik Evans said at the press conference. "That's why you see folks around the country trying to erase history, but you can't erase history."

Who is headlining the 2023 Juneteenth Festival in Rochester?

Hip-hop recording artist Lil' Mo is headlining Rochester's Juneteenth festival.

Lil' Mo, who was born in Long Island, is known for her hit song "Superwoman Part II," and for collaborations with other hip-hop artists like Missy Elliot and Ja Rule.

More recently, she has been featured on the VH1 reality TV show "Love & Hip Hop: New York."

What can people expect at the 2023 Juneteenth Festival in Rochester?

At 10 a.m. Saturday, June 17, a parade begins at Chestnut Street and Court Street and ends at The Strong National Museum of Play, which is offering free admission that day.

The festival will highlight black businesses in Rochester and will include several activities and events, including:

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Why does Rochester celebrate Juneteenth?

The Juneteenth holiday commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved Africans that the Civil War had ended and slavery had been abolished two years prior.

"Juneteenth was the day the government and institutions enforced its promise," Rochester Area Community Foundation President & CEO Simeon Banister said. "This is what this festival is about"

19th Ward Community Association President Josie McClary said Juneteenth is about more than observing the past.

"It's an opportunity to celebrate the progress we have made."

Contact Robert Bell at: rlbell@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @byrobbell & Instagram: @byrobbell.

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This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Juneteenth 2023 celebration in Rochester NY: Lil' Mo to headline