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> Parks and Rec Home > Juneteenth
JuneteenthSaturday, June 16, 2012, 12 noon–5 pmat Watkins Regional Park301 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20774 Information: 301-627-2270; TTY 301-699-2544  June 18, 2011 at Watkins Regional Park, from 12 noon until 5. This free event seeks to promote knowledge and appreciation of African American history, culture and achievement. It is a day full of history, music and dance. There will be cultural dance performances to include Taratibu – a Pan-Afrikan drill that combines traditional Afrikan dance with contemporary military movements by the Taratibu Youth Association, as well as urban dance by Urban Artistry, a local award winning urban dance troupe whose historical and cultural dance form embodies hip hop and break dancing. Visitors will be entertained by musical performances from Diunna Greenleaf, traditional blues “Female Artist of the Year” and her band Blue Mercy; the Voices of Hemingway, the gospel choir and liturgical dance ministry of Hemingway Memorial AME Church; Sudden-M-Pac, The DMV’s well known R&B band; and BlackNotes, the DMV’s talented singers and musicians known for their unique renditions of african american classic songs like What’s Going On and Afro Blue. Mr. James Thomas will be at our Celebration again this year to give an extraordinary oratory presentation on the origin and true meaning of negro spirituals.There will be outdoor exhibits on the history of Juneteenth, as well as a series of individual exhibits on the county’s numerous African American historic sites. Families will be able to interact and enjoy the animals at Old Maryland Farm; ride the train, carousel and play mini golf at the park all day for a special Juneteenth discounted fee ($5), enjoy the huge interactive playground adjacent to the festivities, as well as a number of other activities. There will be food vendors of all kinds, so bring a picnic blanket and plan to spend the day! 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 free sessions are designed to be of interest to both beginning and advanced researchers as well as those interested in family genealogy. Children’s sessions for ages 7-12 are also being offered to instill a love of history and understanding of the value of family in members of the younger generation. Pre-registration is preferred, but not required. The 5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration will be held on Saturday, June 16, 2012 from 12 noon-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, hip-hop and break dancing by award winning dance crews, EnKore and Raw Element, and tap by Emmy winner, Baakari Wilder and the Knock on Wood, Tap Studio. This year Kuumba Kids will perform their creative form of song and dance. Musical selections by the “Mighty Men of Reid Temple” Gospel Choir; the “Black Notes” known for their renditions of African American classic songs; and the jazz fusion group “Blackbyrds” with founding member Keith Kilgo. Traditional blues “Female Artist of the Year”, Diunna Greenleaf and her band “Blue Mercy” will perform. James Thomas returns with his extraordinary oratory presentation on the origin and true meaning of Negro spirituals. 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. Getting Here
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