BROOKINGS — June 19 will mark the official observance of Juneteenth this year and the Brookings Human Rights Commission will sponsor the fifth annual celebration here in Brookings.
Folks attending the fifth annual Brookings Juneteenth Celebration at Pioneer Park on Wednesday can expect a fun, eclectic and celebratory atmosphere.
The event will run from 5 to 8 p.m. and feature live music, a drum circle, food and children’s activities.
Thought the event has evolved over its first five years, the Brookings Human Rights Commission Chair Dianne Nagy said education, joyful noise and a family emphasis have remained constant.
“Though the program has varied from year to year, we always include an educational component, music, dance, and a sense of celebration,” she said. “We continue to incorporate more activities for children to engage entire families. This will be the first time we've held the event mid-week and in the evening.”
Juneteenth, celebrated annually on or around June 19, marks the date in 1865 when federal troops ordered slaves in Texas officially freed — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It has been called the longest-running African-American holiday and America’s Second Independence Day.
President Joe Biden signed a bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021, formalizing the longstanding celebrations across the nation.
New to the Brookings celebration this year is a featured musical act.
“We're thrilled to showcase a collaboration of top musicians from Brookings and Sioux Falls this year,” Nagy said. “The Brass Kickin' Riverband is a 9-piece group that will play an hour-long set of upbeat, energetic, New Orleans Style jazz funk and will likely have everyone up on their feet.”
Nagy said the Juneteenth celebration has always been well received by the Brookings community and attendance has grown through the years. All community members — of all races — are welcomed to the event. There is no cost to attend and registration is not required.
Food will be on offer and vendors including local Black-owned businesses will be there.
“These annual commemorations provide a valuable opportunity to acknowledge our collective history, to reflect on how the past has shaped our present, to celebrate progress, and to revel in the rich tapestry of our diversity,” Nagy said. “Doing so makes Brookings a more welcoming and inclusive place and us a more vibrant community.”
Linehan is the Register’s managing editor and welcomes tips and comments at jlinehan@brookingsregister.com.
