An event that honors this area’s rich African-American heritage, and additionally, respect for elders and those who came before us, will be the focus of the Juneteenth Celebration to be held at Brandon Park on Saturday, June 19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This celebration derives its origins from the day, June 19, 1865, when news of the end of the Civil War and the end of slavery finally reached Galveston, Texas, and was formally announced by Union General Gordon Granger. This day evolved into a day of celebration, joy, and commemoration of the values of freedom and the building of a community for all.

“This year, we will be lifting the vibration of love and healing in our region. We will be honoring our ancestors, elders, community members, as well as remembering the lives whose lives were cut short by bigotry and hatred,” Melodie Carter Shaw, head of the Tri-County Branch of the NAACP, and one of the organizers of the celebration told Webb Weekly. “We want to and must remember our past as we move forward to form a more perfect union.”

The celebration will consist of music, food, dance, and spoken word. The event is highlighted by the appearance of Adrian Miller, renowned author and food historian known as the “Soul Food Scholar,” who will discuss “Soul Food” and how his ancestors took scraps of food made feasts that are still enjoyed to this day, gaining a niche in the panoply of ethnic food. During the celebration, he will be available to sign copies of his book.

The day’s festivities begin at Freedom Road Cemetery at 9 a.m., followed by a one-mile “Peace Walk” to Brandon Park, where the resilience of the Black community will be highlighted and celebrated. Together, everyone will sing “Lift Every Voice,” unofficially known as the Black national anthem, at 10:30 a.m. to formally kick off the Brandon Park festivities. Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter will then give welcoming remarks.

The rest of the afternoon will be filled with displays, entertainment, photography, a healing and drum circle, interviewing local citizens, a wide variety of traditional food, dancing, and an atmosphere of love and healing.

“We invite you to Brandon Park to celebrate with us, “Carter-Shaw said. “We look forward to having African-American artists, musicians, vendors, and chefs on hand to help us ‘Celebrate Who We Are,’ which is the theme of the celebration.”

A partial list of sponsors of Williamsport’s Juneteenth Celebration includes, the Tri-County Chapter of the NAACP, the Charles and Betty Degenstein Foundation, Bucknell University, the Community Arts Center, Geisinger Medical Center, the Community Zone, various local businesses and individuals in the tri-county area. Agencies such as the YWCA, TLC, and the American Rescue Workers, just to name a few.

The Juneteenth Celebration at Brandon Park promises to be a fun, interesting, and informative time for all. We hope to see you there, Saturday, June 19.