St. Cloud’s 25th Annual Juneteenth Celebration Friday

(KNSI) — St. Cloud’s 25th annual Juneteenth celebration will pay tribute to women in a new location and will be the biggest to date.

Previously held at Riverside Park, the African American Male Forum has events from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Eastman Park on Friday.

“We are also going to do an awards banquet. The theme of what we’re doing is a salute to black women. We want it to show our community that there are some pillars. We are honoring ten ladies that have been pioneers that have opened up doors,” said organizer Buddy King of the Higher Works Collaborative. He says the events budget has been doubled, which means more entertainment.

“We have two stages, which in the past have only had one stage. So, we’re going to have a family stage and a main state. We’re going to have a variety of artists from the Twin Cities and locally.”

King says there is something for everyone at this year’s Juneteenth event.

“Our goal is to make sure that every age group from infant to elderly has a feel of something they want to be part of.”

Something new this year is the CentraCare Health Village.

“It is going to be full of medical services. So every family and every individual will have an opportunity to schedule appointments do prescreening clinics.”

He says there are over 40 exhibitors, kids’ activities, family resources, child development, youth development, bounce houses from jump city, and art activities. The St. Cloud Police Department is holding a three-on-three basketball tournament for 6th graders through grownups and a grilling competition.

Juneteenth remembers the day the last enslaved black people were freed. Confederate soldiers surrendered in April 1865, but word didn’t reach the last enslaved black people until June 19th, when Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to Galveston, Texas.

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