Juneteenth organizer and City Councilmember Regina Brackman said the committee has worked hard to plan events that will bring people out to celebrate.

The festival kicks off Friday night with The Breeze Band performing classic R&B, Motown, Soul, and funk music on the Wintergarden Plaza from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Brackman said at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 17, an opening ceremony for the festival will be held at Jackson-Taylor Park, “We have a drum procession that will open up the ceremony. And then we will do a little bit on the Juneteenth history. The mayor will be there and probably some other officials, so they may have an opportunity to speak.”

Brackman said activities at the park will include a basketball clinic by the Jamestown Jackals, a 3-on-3 Basketball tournament, kids activities, and food and craft vendors.

A performance by R&B and Gospel singer Marsha McWilson will be held at 7:00 p.m., Saturday night at the Spire Theatre. Tickets are $5.

And then on Sunday, June 18, a worship service is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. at Jackson-Taylor Park followed by more kids activities and then a Gospel Festival at 3:00 p.m.

Brackman said the Juneteenth Scholarship award presentation will then happen at 5:00 p.m. She said the festival activities helps raise funds for that scholarship, “We talked with one of the recipients from last year’s scholarship award and he is still very thankful and grateful for that scholarship because it allowed him to pay for his books, to buy a laptop to go to school. I mean, anybody that’s going to college, it costs money just to get there as far as books, and bedding, and all this other stuff.”

For more information about the Juneteenth Festival, visit https://www.facebook.com/JTownJTeenth. To learn how to become involved in the Juneteenth Festival planning or learn about the Juneteenth Scholarship, email juneteenthofjamestownny@gmail.com

Juneteenth recognizes when enslaved people living in Galveston, Texas, learned of their emancipation approximately 2.5 years after the Civil War ended. On June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Texas became free. This was the last state of the Confederacy to learn of the independence, even though President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.

The annual Juneteenth Festival will start with a free showing of the movie “Sister Act 2” at the National Comedy Center the evening of Friday, June 17. Activities begin at 6:00 p.m. with basket raffles, drawings, and concession stands.

An opening ceremony for the Juneteenth Festival will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 18 at Jackson-Taylor Park. Saturday’s itinerary will feature a variety of live music, entertainment, a basketball tournament, and food/craft vendors. Families are encouraged to bring their children to Jackson-Taylor Park from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to take part in games, contests, and activities, including a meet-and-greet with Jamestown Fire Department.

Saturday night’s performances at Jackson-Taylor Park for the Festival include poet and author Rodney Mitchell at 4:00 p.m.; and blues artist Marsha McWilson performing at 6:00 p.m.

On Sunday, a 9:00 a.m. morning worship services will be followed by more live music, vendors, and basketball. Festival attendees will also have the opportunity to attend the Carol Faison Memorial Gospel Fest at 3:00 p.m. The announcement of the Juneteenth Scholarship Winners will take place Sunday evening.

In observance of Juneteenth, the Jamestown City Clerk’s Office will be closed Monday, June 20.

Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist said other city departments will be open that day.

He added that starting in 2023, Juneteenth will be a paid holiday for all City of Jamestown employees.