Juneteenth Celebration

AMES, Iowa – Several City of Ames departments will participate in the annual Juneteenth Celebration planned for 12:30 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 15, at Bandshell Park, located at the corner of Sixth Street and Duff Avenue. Ames Parks and Recreation, Ames Police, Ames Fire, Ames Water, Ames Human Relations Commission, and members of the Ames City Council will join other community organizations and businesses as part of the event. The Juneteenth celebration is sponsored by the Ames Branch of the NAACP and the Ames Public Library.
Juneteenth is the oldest national commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States and is observed by celebrating African-American culture. On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, and publicly read the Emancipation Proclamation, marking the final Confederate state in which the Emancipation Proclamation was announced and enforced.
This summer celebration of African-American culture will include family activities, arts and crafts activities, games, live entertainment, food vendors, and more. The movie, “The Lion King,” will be shown at 7 p.m. at the City Hall Auditorium, 520 Sixth St. The movie is free to attend.
To sign up as a vendor or volunteer or to find more information about this event, go to www.amesianaacp.org or email juneteenth4amesstory@gmail.com.