Juneteenth

Saturday, June 15, 2013, 11:30 am–5 pm

The 6th Annual Juneteenth Celebration will be held on Saturday, June 15, 2013 from 11:30 am-5 pm at Watkins Regional Park, 301 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774. This is a FREE family event open to the public, and will be held rain or shine.

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond. Marking the date that the last enslaved people learned of their freedom, the month of June and the nineteenth day were combined to form the word Juneteenth. Juneteenth is an official holiday recognized in over 40 states and the District of Columbia.

The Juneteenth Celebration offers culturally inspired  dance and musical performances including traditional African dance with contemporary military movements by Taritibu Youth Association, urban dance moves by Savage X.  A variety of musical selections by Nolan Wilson and the Voices of Inspiration, Upton Blues Band, Black Notes, Sudden M Pac and Mainouna Youssef will stir the soul.   

The M-NCPPC’s Black History Program, the National Children’s Museum, African American heritage groups and exhibitors, will both educate and entertain visitors. Families will enjoy face painting, the interactive playground at the park as well as the animals at the Old Maryland Farm. Visitors can also ride the miniature train and Carousel, and play mini-golf all day for a special Juneteenth discounted fee of $5. There will also be several vendors selling a variety of food.

From 8:30 am-4 pm the Watkins Nature Center will again host the Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society, Inc. and their partners who have planned a series of exciting lectures and workshops on African American genealogy and history.  These sessions are designed to be of interest to both beginning and advanced researchers, as well as those interested in family genealogy. Pre-registration is preferred, but not required. To register for genealogical workshops visit http://pgcm.aahgs.org/juneteenth, or call Carolyn Rowe (301-292-6987) or Jane Thomas (301-292-1207). The Uhuru Quilters Guild will also host an African American Quilt exhibit.  The Guild has exhibited at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian, the Miller Office Building in Annapolis, Maryland, the University of Maryland and now they will exhibit in the Watkins Nature Center open to all Juneteenth visitors.

For information, call 301-627-2270; TTY 301-699-2544.

Getting Here

Located just minutes from the Capital Beltway. From the Capital Beltway (I-495), take Exit 15A (Central Avenue) east. Continue for approximately three miles. Turn right onto Watkins Park Drive (Route 193) and follow the park signs to the facility. From Route 301, turn onto Central Avenue (Route 214) west. Continue for approximately three miles (past Six Flags America). Turn left onto Watkins Park Drive and follow to the park entrance on the right.

Need a Ride?

Washington Metro Area Transit Authority (WMATA)

TheBus