First-ever 'Youth Juneteenth Parade' hosted in downtown Muskegon

June 19 or known by most as Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.

On this date in 1865, the announcement of the end of the Civil War was finally made in Galveston, Texas.

The war had been over for weeks, but the news had traveled slowly.

In 2021, Juneteenth became a federal holiday.

While there are always many celebrations throughout the month of June, there are several ways you can participate on the actual holiday.

The first-ever Youth Juneteenth Parade kicked off in Muskegon on Wednesday morning outside the CIO Hall on Western Avenue.

The parade began at 11 a.m. and headed up First Street, down to Clay Street and ended at Hackley Park.

The celebration continued at Rake Beer Hall with a family-friendly "After Day Party" from 2 to 4 p.m.

The celebration was hosted by Taking Back Muskegon Inc., a nonprofit is focused on providing kids with programming to keep them off the streets.