The City of Groveland is partnering with Be Free Lake to host the community’s Third Annual Juneteenth celebration on Friday, June 16, from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Lake David Park, 450 S. Lake Ave. The special event will feature cultural dance, stepping performances, a DJ, vendors and a barbecue competition.
Shawn Welcome, a noted Central Florida poet laureate, will perform his poetry and share his inspirational message. Welcome hosts a popular open mic program in Orlando called “Diverse Word.” His talents have been tapped to write NBA commercials, and he has performed in front of a wide array of audiences. One reviewer wrote, “We were inspired by his journey and transfixed by his poetry.”
Juneteenth is one of the newest federal holidays. It marks the official end of slavery when the last slaves in Galveston, Texas, were freed on June 19, 1865. The name “Juneteenth” comes from combining the words “June” and “nineteenth.” This year’s national theme is “Discovering our roots.”
Groveland Council Member Barbara Gaines, who was on the event-planning committee, said, “I’m so pleased that the City of Groveland recognizes and celebrates Juneteenth.”
Gaines noted that Groveland’s event will be “edutaining” with an emphasis on teaching about history in addition to offering entertaining community activities. A key component of Juneteenth, she said, is to “unify all cultures and come together to remember history while looking to the future of things to come.”
Opal Lee, a retired educator, is credited with helping to make Juneteenth a national holiday. At 96, she is known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth.” When she was 89, Lee conducted a symbolic walk from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C. to campaign for the historical event to become a national holiday.
For more information about this and other events, go to www.groveland-fl.gov/events.
