Apopka celebrates Juneteenth

After decades of being celebrated at mostly the local level, Juneteenth – the long-standing holiday commemorating the arrival of news of emancipation and freedom to enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 – became a federal holiday in 2021.

The History of Juneteenth

On “Freedom’s Eve,” or the eve of January 1, 1863, the first Watch Night services took place. On that night, enslaved and free African Americans gathered in churches and private homes all across the country, awaiting news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect. At the stroke of midnight, prayers were answered as all enslaved people in the Confederate States were declared legally free. Union soldiers, many of whom were black, marched onto plantations and across cities in the South, reading small copies of the Emancipation Proclamation and spreading the news of freedom in the Confederate States. Only through the Thirteenth Amendment did emancipation end slavery throughout the United States.

But not everyone in Confederate territory would immediately be free. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation was made effective in 1863, it could not be implemented in places still under Confederate control. As a result, in the westernmost Confederate state of Texas, enslaved people would not be free until much later. Freedom finally came on June 19, 1865, when some 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. The army announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state were free by executive decree. This day came to be known as "Juneteenth" by the newly freed people in Texas. 

In Apopka, it's an opportunity to recommit to the spirit of Juneteenth

"On Juneteenth, we recommit ourselves to the work of equity, equality, and justice," writes the Apopka Juneteenth Committee. "And we celebrate the centuries of struggle, courage, and hope that has brought us to this time of progress and possibility. That work has been led throughout our history by abolitionists and educators, civil rights advocates and lawyers, courageous activists and trade unionists, public officials, and everyday Americans who have helped make real the ideals of our founding documents for all."

Here are all the local Juneteenth celebrations:

Apopka

The Apopka JUNETEENTH Freedom Day Celebration will provide a family outing with a kid’s corner, music, live performances, education, food, art, culture, Apopka historical displays, and much more.  This event will help raise funds for the community and provide networking opportunities for small and startup businesses, but more importantly, it will also raise awareness for our cause across the community.

1st Annual Juneteenth Freedom Parade — Phillis Wheatley Elementary. 1475 Marvin C. Zanders Avenue. Saturday, June 17, 10:30 a.m. Click here for more details on the parade.

4th Annual Juneteenth Celebration — Alonzo Williams Park. 225 M.A. Board Street. Saturday, June 17, noon. The event includes a kids' corner, music, live performances, education, food, art, culture, Apopka historical displays, and much more. Organizers say the event will help raise funds for the community and provide networking opportunities for small and startup businesses.

Ocoee

Juneteenth: Resource & Cultural Arts Festival — Bill Breeze Park, 125 N. Lakeshore Drive. Saturday, June 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Organizers say there will be over 20 community resource booths, including free diapers from CFL Diaper Bank, free food donated by Daily Bread, and legal assistance offered with Legal Aid Society. Volunteers will help guests with college scholarships, registering to vote, Healthcare Marketplace, and Medicare. There will be live performances from Shawn Welcome, CFC Arts, Jazz trombonist Derek Harris, Lydea Strickland, Edgez Dance, and DJ Knight Train. The event is free.

Orange County

Orange County Juneteenth Celebration  — Front lawn of the Orange County Administration Building, 201 S. Rosalind Avenue in Orlando. Wednesday, June 14, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Orange County Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Initiative free community resource event will feature food trucks, a kid's zone, community vendors, and more. 

 Orlando

2nd Annual City of Orlando Juneteenth Celebration — Clear Lake Park, 2301 29th Street. Saturday, June 17, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, District 5 Commissioner Regina Hill, and District 6 Commissioner Bakari Burns will help kick off the event, which will feature live music, and entertainment, a kids' zone, vendor village, and food trucks.