Plans are coming together for this year’s Juneteenth celebration in Syracuse. Committee planners announced the line-up today for the 34th annual event, featuring the usual festival in Clinton Square on June 14th and 15th.
Committee president Kevin Henry says they’ve upped their entertainment game this year.
"Our funding allowed us to hire a national recording artist," Henry said. "I'm sure people are familiar with Roger Troutman and the Zapp Band. The Computer Love, More Bounce to the Ounce. That's huge for us to be able to hire entertainer of that caliber.”
The Zapp band, known for its electro-funk flare out of Dayton, Ohio, is the event headliner, while several celebrated local bands will play throughout the two-day festival. Visitors will enjoy food, retail, and health and human service vendors. Even the Syracuse Mets game will celebrate Juneteenth.
Committee member Bridget McCarthy says they’re including other community events leading in to and out of the festival.
“So we're collaborating with Rashida Caldwell and her 'Let Me Be Great Again' three on three basketball tournament that's occurring the weekend before. So we're trying to extend Juneteenth activities throughout the month.”
There will also be a Miss Juneteenth Pageant. The celebration concludes on the actual holiday, June 19th, with an Ancestral Celebration in the City Hall Commons Atrium. Juneteenth became a national holiday three years ago to recognize of the nation’s end to slavery, but has been celebrated in Syracuse for decades. Find out more here.
EDITOR'S NOTE: WAER Office Manager Cora Thomas is a Juneteenth board member.
