‘Let freedom ring’

Wave Staff Report

LEIMERT PARK — Juneteenth will be celebrated from noon to 7 p.m. June 19 in Leimert Park Village.

The day that marks the news about the Emancipation Proclamation being issued to free slaves reaching Texas on June 19, 1865 — two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued it — will be celebrated with a free community event that will bring together residents, families, artists, vendors and community partners for a day of unity, reflection, and celebration.

Participating vendors, sponsors, and community partners include the Plant Chica, Queen Aminah’s Clothing, Harun Coffee, TBMPAC, KAOS Network, Gorilla Rx Wellness, All Chill, Art + Practice, LA Commons, the World Stage, Ora, Sika, Neighbors, Lore Bookstore, Sole celebration being held throughout the Southland marking the day that became a national holiday in 2021.

Los Angeles County Parks will host a series of free Juneteenth celebrations across the county.

A signature celebration is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 20 at Jackie Robinson Park in Sun Village.

Other events are planned from 4 to 8 p.m. June 18 at Valleydale Park in Azusa, from 4 to 8 p.m. June 25 at El Cariso Community Regional Park in Sylmar and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 27 at Don Knabe Park in Cerritos.

The family-friendly events will feature live entertainment, cultural activities, workshops, sports tournaments and community programming honoring Black culture, freedom, resilience and community, according to organizers.

Programming will include live music, performances, workshops, food vendors, children’s and teen zones and other community activities.

Culver City will host its Juneteenth celebration from noon to 3 p.m. June 20 at Veterans Memorial Park, 4117 Overland Ave. The free, family-friendly event will feature live performances, music, food, family activities and reflections on the history and significance of Juneteenth.

The program will include “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” welcoming remarks from city officials and invited dignitaries, live dance and music performances, a DJ, and a brief program highlighting Juneteenth’s history.

West Hollywood and its Social Justice Advisory Board will celebrate Juneteenth from 3 to 7 p.m. June 20 at West Hollywood Park, 647 N. San Vicente Blvd. The free event will feature vendor booths, a speaker stage and live entertainment while highlighting local Black-owned businesses and nonprofit organizations. 

The city of Santa Monica presents its 34th annual Juneteenth Celebration from 1 to 7 p.m. June 20 at Virginia Avenue Park, for a day of community centered on the theme “A Legacy of Liberation: Honoring Our Resistance and Resilience.”

The sixth annual Watts Juneteenth Street Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 20 at Ted Watkins Memorial Park, 1335 E. 103rd St. It will feature the legendary Leon Sylvers III and the Sylvers Family. A Watts native and one of the most influential producers in R&B history, Sylvers helped create classics for the Sylvers, Shalamar, Dynasty, Lakeside, and countless others.

The California African American Museum will offer three days of free, family-friendly events June 19-21 in Exposition Park.

Programming begins June 19 from 2-3 p.m.with a museum-wide scavenger hunt. On June 20, the museum hosts an afternoon zine-making workshop from 2 to 3:30 p.m. followed by KCRW’s Summer Nights Party featuring live sets from KCRW DJ J.Rocc and guest DJ Monalisa, plus food trucks and a beer garden from 7 to 11 p.m..The galleries will remain open after-hours, offering access to all current exhibitions.

The weekend closes June 21 with a community yoga and sound bath from noon to 2 p.m.

Shoreline Village in Long Beach will observe Juneteenth from 3 to 7 p.m. June 19 featuring live DJs, step show, cultural activations, face painting, arts and crafts, and a wide range of local food vendors and art displays.

Several communities marked Juneteenth last weekend, including the city of Carson, which held a celebration June 13 in Anderson Park, featuring the music of Klymaxx.