With live music, food and fun available at no cost, Pensacola residents came out in full swing on Wednesday for the second annual Juneteenth UnityFest hosted by the Adoration For A New Beginning Church.

Juneteenth marks the day that the last African American slaves were informed they were freed from their masters. It became a national holiday in 2021.

Today, the event is celebrated by some Black Americans as an Independence Day and as an opportunity for people to learn about Black culture, even for some Black Americans such as Skyey Lindsey.

“Before they passed it (as a federal holiday), a lot of people didn’t know what Juneteenth was,” Lindsey said. “I hate to say it but I was one of those people. Now that I know, it’s something that I’m happy to spread.”

Laughing, smiles and joy were prevalent no matter which corner you turned at the UnityFest event. Despite the sweltering heat, some people were finding their groove on the dance floor while others stayed on the sidelines and caught up with each other’s lives.

Lindsey explained what kids could learn about the holiday and the history behind it.

Slavery in the U.S. was outlawed with the Emancipation Proclamation from former President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, but it took until June 19, 1865 for the last U.S. slaves in Galveston, Texas, to be informed that they were free by Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger.

“For starters, thinking that the Fourth of July is the Independence Day and that’s not ours. Juneteenth is actually our Independence, it’s the day that we officially became free,” Lindsey said.

“This (event) is something that I feel like needs to be an ongoing thing, it’s bringing the community out and bringing awareness to the kids who don’t know what’s going on with Juneteenth,” Lindsey continued. “It’s meaningful and something that we’re proud to be (part) of.”

Sharon Nation volunteered for the event and is a member of Adoration For A New Beginning Church. She credited social media, flyer handouts and word of mouth as some of the factors that created a larger turnout this year than what they saw in 2023.

Nation hopes that they’re able to create even more momentum for next year’s event to have a larger impact for the community.

“We’re happy to be able to provide a Juneteenth celebration for the community and we’re looking forward to being bigger and better,” Nation said. “There’s been thousands of people of people out here throughout this event.”

Asked what they enjoyed most abut the event, many attendees cited community, culture, pride and learning.

Carlous Dewayne, a longtime member of the church and friend of its pastor Marcel Davis was one of the people who felt the event brought many underlying, intangible value.

As he handed out watermelon for passerby at the event to cool down with, Dewayne described how its turnout was a powerful statement to him about the local community’s connection.

“I’m glad to see everybody out (here), Pastor Marcel Davis and his wife, Paula, did an awesome job bringing the family out,” Dewayne said. “I appreciate that the community’s coming together, that’s the main thing.”

Local business owner Meka Stallworth was one of many vendors giving out free food for people at the event and said she feels pride in Juneteenth, and the UnityFest event, helping others learn more about Black culture while the community also comes together.

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“What Juneteenth means to me is a day of remembrance, celebration and pride,” Stallworth said. “(Juneteenth) is for everybody. Unity doesn’t start with one person, it’s with everybody.”

The city of Pensacola’s former Police Chief David Alexander III was one of the volunteers for the UnityFest event and felt that members of the community, whether young or old, had a lot to gain from the pool of experience and knowledge at the event.

“Any time the community is able to come together, it’s an opportunity for (everyone) to enjoy and to share the richness of our history together,” he said. “To me personally, (Juneteenth) is an opportunity to share information that’s going to help people live better and do better.”

“It’s one thing to learn about history and a culture, but it’s also how you use it. How do you utilize it so that we don’t repeat the same mistakes over and over again?” Alexander continued. “History and the celebration of history is no good if we don’t use it to make better decisions now and in future situations.”