Peekskill’s First Annual Juneteenth Festival: A Time to Learn, Remember & Celebrate

Juneteenth, the oldest and longest running African American celebration in U.S. history, marks the date when our nation’s last remaining slaves learned that slavery had been abolished, and – this Saturday June 18 – it will be celebrated in Peekskill for the first time.

Never heard of Juneteenth?  You’re not alone.  

Peekskill’s Mayor Mary Foster said that when she was first approached about the concept of a Juneteenth parade and celebration, she had never heard of it either.  Since then, she has become one of the celebration’s biggest proponents.

“It’s about time we all acknowledge slavery; if we look away (from our painful history) we can’t celebrate the freedom that has been won.  People died for that freedom, but we don’t really acknowledge that part.  Even during Veterans Day and Memorial Day, when we acknowledge the sacrifices made by our brave soldiers, we don’t really talk about the civil war soldiers,” Foster said.

Valerie Swan, Director of the Youth Bureau, said that teaching the community about the history of Juneteenth was a big part of her job. “Part of our effort was focused on educating the community about what Juneteenth means.  We created 3,000 palm cards, with facts on one side and ‘save the date’ information on the other,” she said.

That date – this Saturday June 18th – is finally here, and the Juneteenth Committee is promising a celebration to remember.

The Mistress of Ceremonies, Emmy award winning journalist Jennifer Jordan, will lead the opening ceremonies in front of the at 1:15 p.m.

The Grand Marshal of the parade, former Mayor Richard (Rich) Jackson – who made black history in 1984 when he became Mayor of the City of Peekskill and thus New York State's first African American Mayor – will lead over 700 marchers from Park Street to the Lincoln Depot on Water Street.  (See the entire parade route below).

 “The committee is very excited that they just booked the renowned musical group Soul Tigers (a marching band),” Mayor Foster said, “and after the parade, there will be a wonderful festival at the Riverfront Green.” 

The Committee promises a day filled with remembrance and celebratory fun for the entire family.

“We will have spoken word, R&B, rap, and gospel music performances, lots of food and vendors,” Swan said.

Jackson said that when Peekskill’s City Clerk, Pamela Beach – who also made history when she became Peekskill’s first African American City Clerk – called to ask him to serve as Grand Marshal of the parade, he was thrilled.

“I hope this event will galvanize the community around a common celebratory event.   And as a former educator, I hope this celebration of Juneteenth also presents itself as an opportunity for teachers and the school district to help their students think about their history and their heritage in a real way – that they might not only be thankful for the opportunities they have today because of sacrifices made, but that they will also strive to become part of the process to forge new opportunities for the next generations” Jackson said.

VIP Reception:  12:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Opening Ceremonies:  1:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.

Parade:  2:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Festival at Riverfront Green:  4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Juneteenth Parade Route:

The parade will begin on Park Street and proceed north on Broad Street, west on Main Street, south on Nelson Avenue, west on Central Avenue, and end at Central Avenue and Washington Street, with participants walking to the Lincoln Depot on Water Street.