The Long Beach Juneteenth Celebration returns June 15 with a musical performance lineup headlined by Anderson .Paak and a day full of interactive activities at Rainbow Lagoon Park.
This year’s event marks the fourth annual Long Beach Juneteenth festival, and as the festival expands as a popular Black cultural celebration in SoCal, it’s still all about bringing the local community together.
“Each year, our goal is to curate an event that allows lovers of Black culture to celebrate with joy, dignity and unity in a peaceful environment,” said Carl Kemp, founder of the Long Beach Juneteenth Festival, in a recent press release. “With DJ Pee .Wee (aka Anderson .Paak) as our headliner, every aspect of the event is going way up! Having him perform has been my dream from the start, and I am truly blessing to work with a dedicated team of volunteers, generous sponsors, and beautiful community to bring Black joy to the city I love.”
The history of Juneteenth dates back to June 19, 1865 when African American slaves in Texas were freed at the conclusion of the Civil War, over two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
Since Texas was a stronghold for The Confederacy, it wasn’t until Union Major General Gordon Granger oversaw the emancipation process in Galveston, Texas to inform the state’s enslaved people of their freedom that the end of slavery took effect.
Juneteenth has been celebrated regionally in Texas since the 1860s, further spreading throughout the South and within African American communities during the Great Migration and beyond as a beloved annual observance.
In 1979, Juneteenth became a state holiday in Texas, and after decades of legislative efforts at the national level, officially became a federal holiday in 2021 with the passing of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act.
The festival’s entertainment slate will feature musical, poetry and comedy performances from local Black artists, along with a set from .Paak, who will be performing as his record-spinning persona DJ Pee .Wee. There will also be a step show featuring members of local Divine Nine Greek fraternities and sororities.
Festivalgoers can enjoy the Kings & Queens Village kids zone with face painting and arts and crafts, a variety of local Black-owned food trucks, and an appearance from The Los Angeles Kings. In addition, attendees can peruse through a handful of nonprofit and craft vendor booths.
The Long Beach Juneteenth Celebration will take place on Saturday, June 15 from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Rainbow Lagoon Park, located at 400 E. Shoreline Dr. Entry is free with a reserved ticket, which can be secured at lbjuneteenth.com; there are also reserved seating ($80) and reserved table ($800) VIP seating options available for purchase.
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