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By Lookout Staff
June 15 -- Santa Monica will mark the day 142 years
ago when slaves learned they were free with the "15th
Annual Juneteenth Celebration" at Virginia Avenue Park
Saturday.
The event, which will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., commemorates
the day in 1865 when slaves on Galveston Island, Texas received
news of their freedom through the Emancipation Proclamation.
Since Texas proclaimed it an official state holiday in 1980,
Juneteenth has spread to 13 other states, including California,
where festivities, including the one in Santa Monica, celebrate
freedom, dignity and community pride.
This year’s event will feature performances by Ambienz
(African Latin dance ensemble), Driving Words (LA’s
top ambient band), Joe Goldberger and Mike Uhler (jazz and
blues band), Deborah Rogokos (rhythm and blues vocalist),
Ellen Cooper (jazz vocalist) and Annie McKnight (comedian
and TV personality). Other performances include flamenco dance,
break dance, spoken word and gospel.
The Master of Ceremonies for the event will be Clarence Chazz
Ross.
The program will be ushered in by a helicopter flyover and
guest appearances by members of the Tuskegee Airmen from World
War II, Buffalo Soldiers, and youth aviators from Tomorrow’s
Aeronautical Museum.
Vendors will feature hot grilled Memphis style BBQ, hush puppies,
mac n’ cheese and other treats. Shade canopies will
be provided for a comfortable, fun and relaxing family experience.
Kids can join the art station or play organized games. The
park’s water play area will be open for children. All
performances and activities are free and the food is reasonably
priced.
Virginia Avenue Park is located on the northwest corner of
Pico and Cloverfield in Santa Monica. Visitors and neighbors
are encouraged to walk, bicycle or park for free at Santa
Monica College Structure C at the corner of Pico Blvd. and
17th Street.
A Big Blue Bus will shuttle attendees from Santa Monica College
at Pico and 16th to the park. For disability-related accommodation
requests, or to request this information in an alternate format,
please call (310) 458-8688 or TTY: (310) 458-8696 by June
8, 2007.
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