El Pasoans have several ways to mark Juneteenth this week. The national holiday falls on Friday, June 19.
Short for “June Nineteenth,” the holiday commemorates the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take control of the state and enforce the emancipation of all enslaved people. This event occurred two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.
Juneteenth was officially declared a federal holiday on June 17, 2021.
Here are ways to celebrate Juneteenth in the El Paso and Las Cruces area.
Eastside senior center plans celebration Thursday, June 18
As part of the Juneteenth holiday, the Eastside Senior Center invites the community to attend its “Our Bonds of Freedom, Nuestros Lazos de Libertad” event from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, June 18, at Pebble Hills Park, 3200 Fierro Drive.
The event will feature live music, local vendors, great food and a special performance by the Paso del Norte Big Bend. Free.
Make a bracelet at El Paso library
The Memorial Park Library invites families to enjoy a Juneteenth event of creating a friendship bracelet from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 18 at 3200 Copper Ave.
Streetcar 1511 will celebrate Juneteenth
The Streetcar 1511 will host Celebrating Juneteenth with Abeni Janae, starting at 7 p.m. Friday, June 19, featuring music and cultural programming aboard the streetcar. The free event departs from the convention center stop and is part of the city’s Juneteenth observance.
Mesilla Valley Jazz and Blues Society to celebrate Juneteenth
The Mesilla Valley Jazz and Blues Society will join Las Cruces’ Juneteenth celebrations with a free performance at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 21 at the Rio Grande Theatre, 211 N. Main St., Las Cruces. Joining the group will be David Rodriguez, an El Paso-based musician, composer and educator leading the Havana Quintet, a group made up of Cuban musicians.
Audiences will hear a mix of traditional and contemporary Cuban rhythms and arrangements through genres such as danzón, bolero, son, cha-cha-chá, mambo and modern Latin jazz.
Jazz and blues enthusiasts can also head over to Boba Cafe and Cabaret on Espina Street every third Thursday of the month for MVJBS’ monthly jazz jam. All are welcome to join the jam or sit back with the audience. Interested musicians are encouraged to sign up by emailing MVJBSjazzjam@gmail.com.
María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com; @eptmaria.bsky.social on Bluesky, and @eptmariacg on TikTok.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Celebrate Juneteenth with these El Paso area events
Reporting by Maria Cortes Gonzalez, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Maria Cortes Gonzalez, El Paso Times | USA TODAY Network
