The annual Stockton Juneteenth celebration will return to the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds on Saturday, June 14 for its 49th year.
The event begins at 10 a.m. and runs through 9 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at 1658 S. Airport Way in Stockton.
The Juneteenth celebration is organized by the San Joaquin Juneteenth Foundation. This year’s theme is “Uplift,” organizers said.
“At the San Joaquin Juneteenth Foundation, our mission is to serve as a platform and a powerful reminder of the ongoing fight for human rights and equality,” the foundation’s website states. “Our mission is to be a bridge that provides tools, resources and education that will help our community thrive. By promoting love, respect and honor, we aim to uplift while fostering awareness of our shared history. Together, we are committed to creating a brighter future for all, with values that unite us.”
The Stockton nonprofit was founded in 1976 by a group of individuals, the foundation’s website states.
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is a federal holiday that commemorates the Emancipation Proclamation, which President Abraham Lincoln issued on Jan. 1, 1863, to free enslaved African Americans in the Confederate states.
According to USA Today, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, did not learn of their freedom until more than two years later. On June 19, 1865, Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived and informed the community of the Empanicipation Proclamation. That day, the last enslaved African Americans in the Confederacy were declared free as Union troops took control.
Juneteenth is celebrated this year on Thursday, June 19.
2025 Stockton Juneteenth schedule
Other activities to look forward to include the Miss Juneteenth pageant, a youth sports clinic and basketball tournament, an introduction to S.T.E.A.M. with Borderless Academics, food trucks and carts, mental health support and more.
Admission is free with a ticket, which also enters attendees into a raffle, according to the foundation’s website. Free tickets are available at eventbrite.com.
To learn more about Stockton Juneteenth, visit stocktonjuneteenth.org.
Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at arocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. To support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Stockton Juneteenth returns for 49th year Saturday at San Joaquin County Fairgrounds
Reporting by Angelaydet Rocha, The Stockton Record / The Record
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
