City of Bryan celebrating Juneteenth days ahead of schedule

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – This segment on The Three was paid for and sponsored by Destination Bryan.

Get ready to celebrate Juneteenth celebrations around town with the Brazos Valley African American Heritage and Culture Society starting this weekend.

President Harold Eaton said this holiday is important because it’s one of the only ones associated with the Black community and it was the first official holiday created for the community.

The week of events is kicking off on Saturday, June 14 at the Palace Theater from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and will continue Wednesday with a fundraiser at Studio 59, which is one of the oldest Black-owned clubs in Bryan.

Juneteenth events include a blues fest, fancy hat contest, a museum exhibit, and more.

Secretary Kenya Roquemore told The Three the organization aims to create events for the community that are family friendly and affordable.

“That’s really what Juneteenth is: A big celebration of freedom and fellowship,” Roquemore said. “That’s one of the big reasons we try to keep everything at a minimal cost for everyone in the community to be able to come out.”

To make sure kids feel welcome, the group is hosting a parade and celebration in the park on June 21 starting at Kemp Carver Elementary where there will be a kid’s corner with bounce houses and free candy bags.