Ventura County’s celebration of Juneteenth, the federal holiday that falls on June 19, is scheduled on June 20.
The region’s 35th Annual Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration will feature entertainment and food from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Oxnard Plaza Park, 500 S. C St. Admission is free.
Oxnard comedian Denise Carter is set as the master of ceremonies and scheduled entertainment includes many local performers, including the Sunday Mornin’ Praise Band, formed in Ventura County.
The mission of Juneteenth Oxnard is to “foster cross cultural understanding of Black heritage through community engagement using the annual Juneteenth celebration to reach the Ventura County region,” including discussing history and performing arts, according to its website.
History of Juneteenth
On June 19, 1865, Union Major-General Gordon Granger announced in Galveston, Texas, that enslaved Black people were free, according to Oxnard organizers’ site juneteenthoxnard.org. It was after that officials began enforcing emancipation in Texas, about two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863.
News of the proclamation spread slowly following the Civil War, which ended in April 1865. Galveston was the birthplace of the holiday that became known as Juneteenth.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Celebrate Juneteenth at this 35th annual event in Oxnard: What to know
Reporting by Staff reports, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Staff reports, Ventura County Star | USA TODAY Network
