The City of Palm Springs and the Palm Springs Black History Committee will host a Juneteenth Royal Pageant and Celebration Freedom Day on June 14-15 to mark the upcoming Juneteenth holiday weekend.
Juneteenth, a federal holiday celebrated on June 19, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. The holiday was first observed in Texas on that date in 1865, when slaves were declared free under the terms of the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation.
The festivities are scheduled as follows:
- Friday, June 14: King & Queen Royal Pageant at 4 p.m., James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center, 480 W. Tramview Road, Palm Springs. For more information, call (760) 323-8271.
- Saturday, June 15: Juneteenth Celebration Freedom Day from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., featuring educational cultural activities, live music, free food and camel rides, and a tribute to Desert Highland community leader James O. Jessie at the same location. For more information, call (760) 323-8271.
“Juneteenth is an important celebration and reminder about how far we have come as a nation,” said Jarvis Crawford, manager of the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center. “Everyone is invited!”