Juneteenth

Join us! 

Join us from 12–4 p.m. June 19 at Shanklin Park. We are looking for folks to show off their art, business, food, and performing arts. To apply please use one of the links below.

The Emancipation Proclamation, issued on September 22, 1862 and made effective Jan 1, 1863 declared all slaves in rebel states free. Over the course of the Civil War enslavers fled, hoping to continue their lifestyle living on stolen labor in the then-remote state of Texas. The Confederate insurrection officially admitted defeat on April 9, 1865.

Despite enslaved people being proclaimed free and despite the confederate surrender, enslaved people were not automatically freed. Enslavers resisted accepting the freedom of enslaved people. Enslaved people were set free region by region as the US army enforced the end of slavery. Galveston was seen as the last slave-holding stronghold to be liberated on June 19, 1865.

Borrowing from religious celebrations, his date was celebrated and called Jubilee- a time of forgiving debt and releasing slaves. Since then it has become widely known as Juneteenth. It is a time to celebrate, but also recognize obstacles to justice that have yet to be torn down. Juneteenth has been a lightning rod for action. At times the action has been pooling money to buy land and build opportunity other times it has been paired with registering voters so that the African American voice is harder to ignore.

Juneteenth is a time to celebrate. It is a time to learn. It is a time to act.

Vendor information

Interested in participating as a vendor? Click the corresponding link below to apply:

Artists and artisans

Food Vendors

Volunteers

Performers - email ajdelgadillo@goshencity.com