Join Tempe at its annual Juneteenth celebration

Enjoy hands-on activities, performances, vendors, storytime, a video game trailer, first responder vehicles, food trucks and more at Tempe’s free Juneteenth event, which is open to all ages and no registration is required.

Juneteenth marks the historic day of June 19, 1865, when enslaved Americans in Galveston, Texas finally heard they were freed from slavery, more than two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, a city release explained.

Event highlights include a performance by Valley-based neo-soul group Prime Society, crafts and activities for children and storytime with books read by local community leaders.

Food trucks include Smitty's Kitchen and Snowie Town Snow Cones.

“We are embracing the theme of Excellence in Liberation. This theme signifies the importance of pursuing liberation, in order to build a future where justice, equality and freedom prevail for all forever," Dr. Felicia Durden, who serves on the committee, stated on the release.

The event is made possible thanks to support from the city of Tempe Arts & Culture, Tempe’s Diversity Office, Tempe Black Employee Alliance and Fulfillment in Training.

The African American Advisory Committee was formed in 2008 as a Tempe History Museum advisory committee to create a forum, collect and preserve the African American history of Tempe, and promote those stories for the benefit of the community of Tempe, the release detailed.

The committee meets monthly to plan events throughout the year, including Juneteenth and Black History Month celebrations.

For more about the Juneteenth Celebration, visit tempe.gov/juneteenth or call the Tempe History Museum at 480-350-5100.

Additional Juneteenth celebrations not presented by the African American Advisory Committee but are occurring in Tempe for those who would like additional opportunities to come together include:

• Downtown Tempe Juneteenth Celebration - Saturday, June 15, 7-11 p.m.
• Arizona Heritage Center Juneteenth Celebration - Sunday, June 16, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.