USPS Publication Number 16300
THE
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This Community Newspaper is a publication of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association
S E RV I N G T H E F I RS T J U D I C I A L C I RC U I T
FREEDOM RINGS Vol. 25, No. 24
June 11, 2025
SummationWeekly.com
1 Section, 8 Pages
Section A, Page 1
EXPLORE LOCAL JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS
By Chloe Cadenhead
J
uneteenth, an often overlooked event in our nation’s history, is celebrated every year on June 19 to commemorate the end of slavery in America. On June 19, 1865, Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to inform enslaved African Americans that they were free. This was two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, but due to the slow spread of news and slaveowners’ reluctance to relinquish their property, many slaves across the South remained in captivity until Juneteenth. In 1866, June 19 was celebrated in Texas as Jubilee Day. Over time, the celebration spread to other states, and was declared an official Texas state holiday in 1980, but wasn’t recognized as a federal holiday until 2021. While Juneteenth celebrations can come in many forms, traditional modern Juneteenth celebrations typically consist of barbecues, music and community. Pensacola is home to multiple annual events to celebrate the liberation and culture of African Americans. We have rounded up details on some events and celebrations taking place across the city in observance of the upcoming Juneteenth holiday. 4th Annual Juneteenth Family Reunion for the Culture Get ready for an action-packed day filled with thrilling performances, a live game show, delicious food trucks, exciting kids’ activities, spades and domino tables, raffle giveaways and much more. Since 2021, the Watson Family Foundation has hosted a special Juneteenth celebration for individuals of all ages to gather and honor their shared heritage. This year’s event will be held on June 14 from 12 to 6 pm at Museum Plaza located at
300 S. Tarragona St. in downtown Pensacola. Be sure to bring your own lawn chairs or picnic blankets for a full day of family, food and culture. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the website watsonfamilyfoundation.com. Juneteenth UnityFest 2025 Co-hosted by attorney Troy Rafferty and Adoration for a New Beginning Church, UnityFest 2025 is a free community event that’s all about bringing people from all backgrounds together in joy, reflection and solidarity. In honor of Juneteenth, this year’s event is set to be bigger and better than ever before. Individuals and families of all ages are invited to come and celebrate culture, music and unity from 12 to 4 pm on June 19. The event will feature a variety of family-friendly games, foods and tasty treats, live music, dancing and more. UnityFest 2025 will be held at A New Beginning Church located at 920 W. Government St. in Pensacola. For updates and event details, check out the Adoration for A New Beginning Church Facebook page. Blue Wahoos’ Juneteenth Celebration The Blue Wahoos baseball team and Escambia County have teamed up to host a special Juneteenth celebration. On June 19, during their game against the Montgomery Biscuits, the Blue Wahoos will once again pay tribute to the Negro Southern League’s Pensacola Seagulls, a prominent team in the city’s Black baseball history, with special throwback jerseys to honor baseball’s past. Individuals and families of all ages are invited to come out and enjoy an evening filled with Juneteenth celebration on June 19 at 6:05 pm at the Blues Wahoos Stadium located at 351 W. Cedar St. in downtown Pensacola.
For tickets and information, visit mlb.com/pensacola. Five Sisters’ Blues Cafe Juneteenth Celebration The Five Sisters’ Blues Cafe, nestled in the epicenter of black history in Pensacola, is going back to its roots this Juneteenth. Inspired by the rich culinary history stemming from the African Diaspora, Chef Josh Rich has created an authentic Southern menu to honor the African American contributions to American cuisine. The three-course menu includes Southern catfish bites, barbeque fried ribs and Southern sweet red velvet cake, as well as the Uncle Nearest Passion Fruit Mule. This Juneteenth specialty menu will be available June 19 through June 22. Located at 421 W. Belmont St., on the corner of Belmont and DeVilliers, Five Sisters’ Blues Cafe is open Monday through Thursday from 11 am to 9 pm and Friday and
Saturday from 11 am to 10 pm. Jazz Brunch is offered from 10 am to 4 pm on Sundays. For details on the special menu and more, visit the website fivesistersbluescafe.com. 36th Annual MLK Day Parade The Pensacola Martin Luther King Jr. Parade has been a cherished community event since its humble beginnings in 1987. What started with just over a dozen dedicated individuals gathering to honor Dr. King’s legacy has grown into one of the largest parades in the city, attracting thousands of spectators and participants each year. The 2025 MLK Day parade was originally scheduled for January 20, but due to monumental Florida snowfall, the city rescheduled the parade to coincide with Juneteenth. This Mardi Gras-style parade features a variety of participants from local businesses, churches, schools, civic groups and elected officials on
floats of all shapes and sizes decorated for this year’s theme, “One Team - One Dream.” The annual Pensacola MLK Day Parade is a free and family-friendly event. The parade will kick off at 11 am at the intersection of Spring and Garden streets in downtown Pensacola. For more information on the 2025 MLK Day parade, visit the website mlkparadepensacola.com. UWF Juneteenth Celebration Event The University of West Florida (UWF) Black Employees Association (BEA) and Office of Campus Culture & Access (OCCA) will host a Juneteenth celebration on June 16 from 11 am to 1 pm at the UWF Commons Auditorium (Bldg. 22, Room 100) at 11000 University Parkway in Pensacola. This celebration is free and open to the public and will feature soulful food, live music, games, special performances and more. For more information, visit uwf.edu or contact Barbara Wells at bwells2@uwf.edu.■
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