The 11th Annual Juneteenth Atlanta Parade and Music Festival celebrates freedom, unity and equality
June is here, which marks the start of month-long celebrations in honor of Juneteenth.
Juneteenth – also known as Freedom Day – is a holiday that celebrates the announcement of the abolition of slavery, and thus the freedom of enslaved Africans, in Texas on June 19, 1865. Although Juneteenth was recently recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, the monumental day is one that has been celebrated by Black Americans for years prior.
Atlanta is getting in on this year’s festivities with the 11th Annual Juneteenth Atlanta Parade and Music Festival taking place June 16-18 in Centennial Olympic Park. The weekend is slated to be a celebration of freedom, unity, equality, and the beauty of Black culture. Centennial Olympic Park and the streets of ATL will be overflowing with the soulful melodies of live music, mouthwatering food, handmade goods from local and international vendors, and cultural activities.
The pinnacle of the event will be the televised Juneteenth parade on June 17. Intricately decorated floats, talented dance troops, community youth organizations, captivating marching bands, and prominent local figures will be present to help commemorate the historic day.
The 2023 Juneteenth Atlanta Parade and Music Festival is sure to be a time of celebration, learning, and unfiltered joy. For more information on the upcoming festivities, visit juneteenthatl.com.
Roshae Hemmings is an arts and culture magazine journalist from St. Louis, MO. A graduate from the Missouri School of Journalism, Roshae has bylines in the Columbia Missourian, Vox Magazine and 5280 Magazine discussing topics ranging from pop culture, social justice and eat and drink. She is a foodie at heart and enjoys eating food as much as learning about the story behind it. You can reach Roshae via email at roshaehemmings@detourxp.com.
This story was originally published June 2, 2023 at 2:20 PM with the headline "The 11th Annual Juneteenth Atlanta Parade and Music Festival celebrates freedom, unity and equality."