Juneteenth celebrations draw in two different Topeka communities

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Locals from Topeka and beyond took part in the Juneteenth parade Saturday, June 14.

Located downtown, many were enthralled by the experience.

“I think the parade was great,” said Mashayla Dickson, an attendee of the parade. “I think the kids got lots of candy today, so I’m really glad that they were able to come out, and everybody was celebrating.”

Beyond the candy and cars, the parade united people across societally drawn lines.

“You know, there’s been so much violence going on all around the world, period. And that’s from day one to now. So when you can come together and enjoy a day like this together, I mean it, it should be a happy moment. And it shouldn’t be just today it. [It] should be always,” said Philip Rice, another attendee.

Once the parade ended its procession, the first ever Juneteenth car show started, including various unique vehicles, and even some horses.

“So we got about 25 cars here. We’ve got…2 vendor trucks. So it’s a pretty good thing for the first-year turnout,” said Randy Wheat, Vice-President of The Topeka Friends and Family Juneteenth Celebration.

The car show was a fundraiser for all things Juneteenth, including next week’s celebrations and a trip for Juneteenth royalty.

“So the car show’s to help us raise money for us to support different things that…help us with the parade. Help us with Juneteenth, the musical, the restrooms, the small stuff like that, that people don’t see,” Wheat said.

The car show expresses how much the celebration has changed, and the inclusivity of the show.

“These extra kinds of activities…just show the expansion of it and the more inclusiveness and the inclusion of not only the African Americans, but as well as other enthusiasts having different interests and different values and wanting to participate in and accelerate not only our heritage but…our love and our vehicles,” said Alonzo Harrison, an attendee of the car show.

The car show will again fundraise for the 12th annual Topeka Family and Friends Juneteenth Celebration next weekend, at Hillcrest Community Center. There will be other events celebrating Juneteenth as well.