https://www.timesunion.com/7dayarchive/article/Juneteenth-celebration-kicks-off-Friday-in-12991968.php
Juneteenth celebration kicks off Friday in Schenectady
Updated 7:13 pm, Wednesday, June 13, 2018
Jynnae Stevens, 11, left, and Jahnasia Gardner, 9, perform with the dance troop Umoja during the 14th Annual Celebration of Juneteenth on Saturday, June 21, 2014, at Central Park in Schenectady, N.Y. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union) less
Jynnae Stevens, 11, left, and Jahnasia Gardner, 9, perform with the dance troop Umoja during the 14th Annual Celebration of Juneteenth on Saturday, June 21, 2014, at Central Park in Schenectady, N.Y. Juneteenth ... more
Photo: Cindy Schultz
Members of the Tsoloi Ensemble perform a traditional African dance at the Juneteenth celebration at Washington Park on Sunday, June 12, 2016, in Albany, N.Y. Juneteenth has long been a celebration of freedom, as the date represents the time when the last slaves in America were freed after emancipation. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union) less
Members of the Tsoloi Ensemble perform a traditional African dance at the Juneteenth celebration at Washington Park on Sunday, June 12, 2016, in Albany, N.Y. Juneteenth has long been a celebration of freedom, ... more
Photo: PAUL BUCKOWSKI
David Serra gets a fade style cut from barber Roger Rucker of Exclusive Barber & Beauty Salon during the Hamilton Hill Arts Center sponsored 16th Annual Juneteenth Celebration in Central Park on Saturday June 18, 2016 in Schenectady, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union) less
David Serra gets a fade style cut from barber Roger Rucker of Exclusive Barber & Beauty Salon during the Hamilton Hill Arts Center sponsored 16th Annual Juneteenth Celebration in Central Park on Saturday June ... more
Photo: Michael P. Farrell
The We Are One band does a sound check during the Hamilton Hill Arts Center sponsored 16th Annual Juneteenth Celebration in Central Park on Saturday June 18, 2016 in Schenectady, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union) less
The We Are One band does a sound check during the Hamilton Hill Arts Center sponsored 16th Annual Juneteenth Celebration in Central Park on Saturday June 18, 2016 in Schenectady, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times ... more
Photo: Michael P. Farrell
One-year-old Seline Deane checks out a book at the Parson's Early Head Start booth during the Hamilton Hill Arts Center sponsored 16th Annual Juneteenth Celebration in Central Park on Saturday June 18, 2016 in Schenectady, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union) less
One-year-old Seline Deane checks out a book at the Parson's Early Head Start booth during the Hamilton Hill Arts Center sponsored 16th Annual Juneteenth Celebration in Central Park on Saturday June 18, 2016 in ... more
Photo: Michael P. Farrell
Alyssa Lotmore of Albany and her daughter Tessa Cherry-Woode, 3, enjoy the music at the Juneteenth celebration at Washington Park on Sunday, June 12, 2016, in Albany, N.Y. Juneteenth has long been a celebration of freedom, as the date represents the time when the last slaves in America were freed after emancipation. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union) less
Alyssa Lotmore of Albany and her daughter Tessa Cherry-Woode, 3, enjoy the music at the Juneteenth celebration at Washington Park on Sunday, June 12, 2016, in Albany, N.Y. Juneteenth has long been a ... more
Photo: PAUL BUCKOWSKI
Members of the Tsoloi Ensemble perform a traditional African dance at the Juneteenth celebration at Washington Park on Sunday, June 12, 2016, in Albany, N.Y. Juneteenth has long been a celebration of freedom, as the date represents the time when the last slaves in America were freed after emancipation. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union) less
Members of the Tsoloi Ensemble perform a traditional African dance at the Juneteenth celebration at Washington Park on Sunday, June 12, 2016, in Albany, N.Y. Juneteenth has long been a celebration of freedom, ... more
Photo: PAUL BUCKOWSKI
Children play with a basketball at the Juneteenth celebration at Washington Park on Sunday, June 12, 2016, in Albany, N.Y. Juneteenth has long been a celebration of freedom, as the date represents the time when the last slaves in America were freed after emancipation. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union) less
Children play with a basketball at the Juneteenth celebration at Washington Park on Sunday, June 12, 2016, in Albany, N.Y. Juneteenth has long been a celebration of freedom, as the date represents the time ... more
Photo: PAUL BUCKOWSKI
Shireen Ali entertains as a clown at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Comminity booth during the Hamilton Hill Arts Center 15th annual celebration of Juneteenth at Central Park on Saturday June 20, 2015 in Schenectady, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union) less
Shireen Ali entertains as a clown at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Comminity booth during the Hamilton Hill Arts Center 15th annual celebration of Juneteenth at Central Park on Saturday June 20, 2015 in Schenectady, ... more
Photo: Michael P. Farrell
SCHENECTADY — Schenectady's annual Juneteenth celebration, the oldest known observance marking the end of slavery in the nation, returns to Central Park this weekend.
The free event, which highlights culture, community, history and freedom, kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Friday with a program honoring ancestors and African history at the African American burial ground at Vale cemetery followed by an ice cream social.
The festivities will kick into high gear Saturday at Central Park with entertainment on the stage and in the pavilion all day long with a health fair and vendors selling their wares.
Some of the performers include the Restored Gospel Group, the Umoja African dancers, the Schenectady High School jazz band and Prince Sprauve with Ill Funk Ensemble.
Additionally, there will be food and craft vendors, information booths and a host of activities for your the little ones, including pony rides, crafts, the bookmobile and double dutch rope jumping.
The Hamilton Hill Arts Center brought the Juneteenth fete to the Capital District in 2000.
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