Collingswood Juneteenth Celebration
June 17, 2023 2-6 PM Downtown Collingswood (Irvin Avenue Between Haddon & Atlantic)
The Borough of Collingswood and the Collingswood Community Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee will celebrate Juneteenth in Collingswood on June 17 at 2:00 pm with an outdoor event in Downtown Collingswood celebrating our diverse community while showcasing art and culture of the black diaspora.
The free event will feature a live performance by members of the Ritz Theatre Company’s 2023 production of “The Color Purple”, live music, spoken word, food vendors, and a showcase of Collingswood student works of art. Kids can participate in crafts, share in a “Read Aloud '' and enjoy a very special “Juneteenth Passport Journey” presented by the Collingswood Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee. The festival will also include giveaways and information from local community groups.
About Juneteenth: When the Emancipation Proclamation freed enslaved Africans across the South on January 1, 1863, those enslaved in the far-flung state of Texas did not receive word of their freedom until two years later when on June 19th, 1865 Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Texas with 2,000 federal troops to personally enforce emancipation. From its sobering yet joyous beginnings, Juneteenth has evolved into the “oldest African American holiday” or to some, “America’s Second Independence Day.” For all, it is a celebration of freedom, diversity, and American cultural significance.
Rain Location: Collingswood High School
Link to event page and updates:
http://collingswood.com/things_to_do/arts_and_events/unity_in_the_community_.php