A.M. YOU’RE WATCHING WESH TWO. TODAY IS JUNETEENTH. AMERICA’S NEWEST FEDERAL HOLIDAY, FIRST CELEBRATED NATIONWIDE IN 2021, THE JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY HAS BEEN CELEBRATED IN BLACK COMMUNITIES FOR MORE THAN 150 YEARS, AND JUNETEENTH MARKS THE DAY THAT 2000 UNION TROOPS MARCHED INTO GALVESTON, TEXAS, TWO MONTHS AFTER THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR AND TWO YEARS AFTER THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION, TELLING THE LAST GROUP OF ENSLAVED BLACK PEOPLE THAT THEY’D BEEN FREED. SEVERAL EVENTS ARE HAPPENING THROUGHOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA TO COMMEMORATE JUNETEENTH. WESH 2’S PAOLA TRISTAN ARUDA WAS IN LOCK HAVEN PARK FOR THE ANNUAL FACETS OF FREEDOM FESTIVAL. IT’S BACK FOR THE FIFTH YEAR. THE FACETS OF FREEDOM JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL RETURNED TO THE ORLANDO FAMILY STAGE, A CELEBRATION THAT KEEPS ON GROWING. WE HAVE A VIBRANT, JUST BRILLIANT COMMUNITY HERE OF CENTRAL FLORIDIAN ARTISTS OF AFRICAN DESCENT. THIS IS IN CELEBRATION OF THAT. THAT HISTORY FOR ALL OF US AS AMERICANS. THROUGH LIVE PERFORMANCES, JUNETEENTH BOOK READINGS, ACTIVITIES AND CRAFTS, THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. BUT THE FIRST PART OF THE FESTIVAL IS ALL ABOUT THE KIDS. BRING THE KIDS DURING THE DAY. DROP THEM OFF AT HOME. COME BACK, CATCH OUR NIGHTTIME PERFORMANCES AND IT’S JUST A FULL DAY OF HANDS ON ACTIVITIES AND PERFORMANCES. ATTENDEES CAN ALSO STROLL THROUGH THE JUNETEENTH MARKET, SHOWCASING BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES. I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO SHOWCASE THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, NOT JUST ON THE MERIT OF HOW GREAT IT IS, BUT IN ORDER TO CREATE MORE BRIDGES WITHIN THE BROADER COMMUNITY. MORE THAN 50 VENDORS HAVE BEEN SETTING UP FOR TODAY’S EVENT, AND THAT’S A BIG JUMP FROM LAST YEAR’S 15 VENDORS. AND ABOUT 1000 PEOPLE HAVE CONFIRMED TO ATTEND TODAY’S FESTIVAL. JUNETEENTH IS REALLY, YOU KNOW, THE COMMEMORATION OF THE ENDING OF SLAVERY. AND, YOU KNOW, THAT’S IT’S SO HISTORICAL, OBVIOUSLY. AND I’M SO GLAD THAT I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN SHARE MY BOOKS FEATURING BLACK GIRLS WHO ARE CONFIDENT IN, YOU KNOW, IN THEMSELVES. COVERING ORANGE COUNTY IN ORLANDO, PAOLA TRISTAN ARUDA WESH TWO NEWS. THAT FESTIVAL IS JUST GETTING STARTED. IT’S GOING TO CONTINUE UNTIL 10:00 TONIGHT. YOU CAN CHECK OUT A LIST OF SOME OF THE OTHER JUNETEENTH EVENTS
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Fifth annual Facets of Freedom Juneteenth festival kicks off in Orlando
The Facets of Freedom Juneteenth Festival returned to Orlando’s Loch Haven Park for its fifth year.The event celebrates African-American culture through performances, activities, and a market.Mandi Jo John, executive director of Black Theater Girl Magic, said, “We have a vibrant, just brilliant community here of Central Floridian artists of African descent. This is in celebration of that history for all of us as Americans.”The festival featured Juneteenth book readings, activities, and crafts, with a focus on engaging children during the day. “Bring the kids during the day, drop them off at home, come back, catch our nighttime performances, and it’s just a full day of hands-on activities and performances,” Rikki Jean-Antoine, festival vendor coordinator, said.Attendees can explore the Juneteenth market, which showcases Black-owned businesses. More than 50 vendors set up for the event, a significant increase from last year’s 15 vendors, and about a thousand people confirmed their attendance. Sumer Strawbree, a 15-year-old speaker and author, was one of the vendors. She expressed excitement about the event. “Juneteenth is the commemoration of the ending of slavery. It’s so historical, obviously. And I’m so glad that I have the opportunity to even share my books, featuring Black girls who are confident in themselves,” Strawbree said.
The Facets of Freedom Juneteenth Festival returned to Orlando’s Loch Haven Park for its fifth year.
The event celebrates African-American culture through performances, activities, and a market.
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Mandi Jo John, executive director of Black Theater Girl Magic, said, “We have a vibrant, just brilliant community here of Central Floridian artists of African descent. This is in celebration of that history for all of us as Americans.”
The festival featured Juneteenth book readings, activities, and crafts, with a focus on engaging children during the day.
“Bring the kids during the day, drop them off at home, come back, catch our nighttime performances, and it’s just a full day of hands-on activities and performances,” Rikki Jean-Antoine, festival vendor coordinator, said.
Attendees can explore the Juneteenth market, which showcases Black-owned businesses.
More than 50 vendors set up for the event, a significant increase from last year’s 15 vendors, and about a thousand people confirmed their attendance.
Sumer Strawbree, a 15-year-old speaker and author, was one of the vendors. She expressed excitement about the event.
“Juneteenth is the commemoration of the ending of slavery. It’s so historical, obviously. And I’m so glad that I have the opportunity to even share my books, featuring Black girls who are confident in themselves,” Strawbree said.
Check out was real simple, can't wait for the tote bag