Community celebrates Omaha’s fifth annual Juneteenth JoyFest

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Music, dancing and vendors filled 24th Street in front of The Union for Contemporary Art on Saturday, not far from where founder Alajia McKizia started this festival five years ago.

“It was just a way to bring back the music and arts cultural live scene that used to exist on 24th Street” Alajia said.

“We just want to honor the past while bringing in the present and the future.”

Now, it’s an event that brings the North Omaha community together.

“Just seeing all the different talent, being able to have a space for creativity and live in so many different ways,” attendee Shukura Huggins said.

“You’ve got the vendors out here, you’ve got the babies out here performing and just doing arts and enjoying the space.”

Along with all the fun though, is a deep sense of what Juneteenth means. Celebrating freedom shows up in different ways, for some it’s about self care.

“Finding the freedom to say no when you need to say no and to take rest when you need to take rest is also important.” attendee Alisha Huggins said.

For others, it’s about wanting more people to experience freedom.

“Connecting with the memory of our ancestors’ liberation,” vendor Egypt McKizia said.

“We’re praying that we can see more liberation of all oppressed people around the world.”

and many took time to remember those who they say are still suffering from oppression in other parts of the world, and here at home.

“There’s a lot going on in the administration trying to take away funds and access to people being able to celebrate who they are and their diversity,” Alajia said.

“I think that us showing up is us saying we’re here and we’re not going anywhere.”

“The quote that comes to my mind is that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” Shukura said. “I think anytime we can express celebration and we can express joy especially when there’s sometimes not a lot of things to be joyful about we are reminded that we can create that joy.”

Alajia started the Juneteenth Joyfest in an empty lot next to her own home near 25th and Burdette Street. Today, the event has grown to 15 vendors and various music artists.