Juneteenth on the East returns to Oklahoma City with expanded celebrations
Oklahoma City’s Eastside will host Juneteenth on the East, a three-day celebration of Black freedom and culture, from June 19 to 21, featuring art, fashion and live performances.
947 IS THE TIME. AND JUNETEENTH ON THE EAST BACK FOR ANOTHER YEAR AND BIGGER THAN EVER JUNE 19TH THROUGH THE 21ST WITH LOVE OKC SET TO BRING THE THREE DAY CELEBRATION OF BLACK FREEDOM AND CULTURE TO OKC’S EAST SIDE. SO IN STUDIO TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS, LET’S WELCOME IN JB WILLIAMS AND KRISTA RICE, THE ORGANIZERS OF THIS AMAZING EVENT. GOOD MORNING AND THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. YEAH, YEAH. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE FESTIVAL FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW IN TOWN. WE GOT A LOT OF VISITORS OUT HERE RIGHT NOW FOR THE THUNDER. AND THEY, YOU KNOW, MIGHT BE LOOKING AT SOME WAYS TO CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF JUNETEENTH ON THE EAST. HOW DID IT GET STARTED AND WHAT WAS REALLY THE REASON TO MAKE THIS EVENT SO BIG, SO POPULAR HERE ON THE EAST SIDE? WELL, WE STARTED IN 2021 AND YOU KNOW, ME, MYSELF, I, I GET TO DO FESTIVALS AND BE A PART OF EVENTS ALL OVER THE CITY. AND I REALLY WANTED TO BRING, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT LEVEL OF FESTIVAL TO THE EAST SIDE WHERE I GREW UP. AND SO THAT’S ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY WE STARTED IT, BECAUSE WE REALLY WANTED TO JUST DO SOMETHING COOL, YOU KNOW, AND GET PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY A CHANCE TO NOT ONLY JUST HAVE A FESTIVAL FESTIVAL, BUT HAVE A A REALLY LIKE HIGH STANDARD FESTIVAL WHERE ALL THE MUSIC IS GREAT. YOU KNOW, WE INCORPORATE ART, WE INCORPORATE KIDS, THE COMMUNITY AND JUST CELEBRATE, YOU KNOW, LIBERATION FOR EVERYBODY TOGETHER. SO ABSOLUTELY. AND THIS IS THE FIFTH YEAR FOR JUNETEENTH ON THE EAST. CONGRATULATIONS. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS YEAR. NOW, WHAT’S NEW, WHAT’S EXCITING THAT PEOPLE CAN EXPECT TO SEE? YES. SO WE KNOW THAT. THANK THANKFUL FOR MAYOR HOLT FOR PUTTING THE PROCLAMATION THAT THIS WEEK, THE ENTIRE WEEK IS JUNETEENTH WEEK. AND SO WHAT WE LOVE TO DO AS ORGANIZERS IS MAKE SURE THAT EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK, EVENTUALLY WE WANT SOMETHING GOING ON FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND IT’S ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS GOING TO BE FREE. SO THURSDAY, BLACK CREATIVITY PANEL, OUR THEME IS THREADS. SO WE’RE LOOKING AT FASHION RIGHT. AND SO WE’VE GOT APRIL WALKER WITH WALKER RARE COMING THROUGH. WE’LL BE AT THE INNOVATION HALL THURSDAY NIGHT WITH A LINEUP OF THINGS FOR A PANEL DISCUSSION. THE OKLAHOMA COWBOYS FOUNDATION, AND THEN A LOT OF LOCAL DESIGNERS, GROUP FLY AND SOME OTHERS TOO, THAT WILL BE JOINING US. AND THE COOL THING IS, AFTER THE DISCUSSION, THEY’RE ALL GOING TO BE DOING A SHOWCASING 2 TO 3 PIECES. SO WE GET A LITTLE FASHION SHOWCASE AS WELL. YEAH. THANK GOODNESS WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR RED COYOTE RUNNING. THEY PUT ON A5K FOR US. IT’S FREE EVERY SINGLE YEAR. YOU CAN CATCH THAT ON FRIDAY. AND THEN THE FESTIVAL IS SATURDAY FROM 3 TO 9. AND Y’ALL GOT A PRETTY BIG HEADLINER COMING TO TOWN. BIG KRIT I MEAN, THIS IS HUGE. HOW EXCITING IS IT TO HAVE BIG KRIT HERE IN TOWN? AND I ALSO WANT TO GET BACK TO APRIL WALKER TOO. SHE’S ON THURSDAY. SHE’S A HUGE DEAL. SO JUST TALK ABOUT WHAT IT’S LIKE TO HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE JUST RECOGNIZE WHAT’S GOING ON IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND WANTING TO COME HERE. I’M REALLY GLAD BECAUSE I’M ALWAYS WHENEVER WE’RE TRYING TO PICK THE HEADLINER, I TRY NOT TO JUST PICK PEOPLE THAT I LIKE, YOU KNOW? AND SO WHENEVER WE DO BOOK A HEADLINER, WE CAN SEE PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT. THAT’S WHAT MAKES US FEEL GOOD. AND SO WE’VE GOTTEN A GREAT RESPONSE FROM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SO EXCITED TO SEE BIG KRIT. THERE WERE PEOPLE LIKE FROM FROM YEAR ONE WANTING TO BE HERE. SO WE GOT TO FINALLY GET THEM HERE. SO IT’S GOING TO BE DOPE. AND THEN OF COURSE, APRIL WALKER, I MET HER PROBABLY ABOUT 7 TO 8 YEARS AGO, AND SHE’S JUST BECOME A GREAT FRIEND. BUT, YOU KNOW, SHE HER HER BRAND WALKER REALLY HELPED, YOU KNOW, START STREETWEAR AND HIP HOP WEAR AND FASHION. AND SO, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY FROM TUPAC TO BIGGIE TO WU-TANG, HIGHER LEARNING THE MOVIE ABOVE THE RIM. SHE DID, YOU KNOW, FASHION FOR ALL OF THOSE. AND SO TO HAVE HER HERE AND JUST, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST BE HERE BUT LIKE SHARE HER KNOWLEDGE WITH OUR OTHER DESIGNERS AND STUFF IN THE CITY IS GOING TO BE REALLY, REALLY EXCITING. SO, CHRISTA, I WANT TO COME BACK TO YOU BEFORE WE LET YOU GUYS GO. YOU HAD TALKED ABOUT THESE ARE EVENTS THAT ARE FREE FOR THE COMMUNITY. HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO KEEP THESE EVENTS FREE FOR EVERYONE HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY? I THINK IT’S IT’S HUGE WHAT WE’RE DOING, BRINGING PEOPLE OVER TO THE EAST SIDE OF OKLAHOMA CITY, ALLOWING THEM TO SEE OUR THE BEAUTIFICATION OF OUR WALLS, BECAUSE WE DO GET TO PUT UP A MURAL EVERY SINGLE TIME, AND WE DON’T WANT TO DEPRIVE ANYBODY OF THAT. RIGHT. COME ON OVER TO TO THE EAST SIDE AND SEE THE FESTIVAL. WE MAKE SURE THAT IT’S FREE BECAUSE WE WANT EVERYBODY TO JOIN IN ON THE CELEBRATION. WE BELIEVE THAT THE CELEBRATION, YES, IT IS FOR BLACK PEOPLE, BUT IT’S FOR ALL RIGHT. WHEN WE LOOK AT HISTORY HERE IN OKLAHOMA AND HERE IN AMERICA, WE’RE LOOKING AT CELEBRATING. IT’S ALL ABOUT JOY. IT’S ALL ABOUT FUN. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE EDUCATION OF WHAT JUNETEENTH IS AS WELL, WHICH IS A CELEBRATION. SO WE’LL HAVE A KIDS MURAL GOING ON AS WELL FROM 3 TO 6. AND SO WE WANT IT FREE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY SO THAT NOBODY’S LEFT OUT AND ANYBODY CAN COME JOIN US. ALL RIGHT. WELL, EVERYBODY MAKE SURE YOU’RE WATCHING RIGHT NOW. TELL SOMEBODY, COME DOWN TO THE EAST SIDE. ALL THE FUN STARTS ON JUNE 19TH, GOES THROUGH THE 21ST. WE’RE GOING TO PUT MORE INFORMATION UP ON OUR WEBSITE KOCO.COM. SO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET IN ON THE FUN, THE JUNETEENTH FUN CAN DO. SO CHRISTA JB, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON AND HAVE A GREAT TIME THIS WEEK. ALL RIGHT. WE’LL SEE YOU RIGHT BACK AFT
Advertisement
Juneteenth on the East returns to Oklahoma City with expanded celebrations
Oklahoma City’s Eastside will host Juneteenth on the East, a three-day celebration of Black freedom and culture, from June 19 to 21, featuring art, fashion and live performances.
Juneteenth on the East is returning to Oklahoma City’s Eastside from June 19-21, marking its fifth year. >> Download the KOCO 5 App | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channelThe event will be a three-day celebration of Black freedom and culture organized by WithLove OKC.Jabee Williams and Krista Rice, organizers of the event, shared their excitement on KOCO Monday morning, just days before the festivities begin. “We incorporate art. We incorporate kids, and just celebrate liberation for everybody together,” Williams said.The celebration kicks off Thursday with a panel on Black creativity, focusing on fashion. “Thursday (is the) Black creativity panel. Our theme is threads, so we’re looking at fashion, right? So, we’ve got April Walker with Walker Wear coming through. We’ll be at the Innovation Hall Thursday night with a lineup of things and a panel discussion. The Oklahoma Cowboy Foundation, and then a plot of local designers, Group Fly and some others will be joining us,” said Krista Rice, detailing the lineup. “The cool thing is after the discussion, they’ll be showcasing two to three pieces, so we get a little fashion showcase, as well.”Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.Friday features a 5K run organized with Red Coyote, starting at 7 a.m. The festival culminates on Saturday with live performances, headlined by rapper Big K.R.I.T., on NE 23rd Street between Hood and Kelham. The event is free to attend.”Here in Oklahoma and here in America, we’re looking at celebrating. It’s all about joy. It’s all about fun. It’s all about the education of what Juneteenth is, as well, which is a celebration,” Rice said. More information on the event can be found here. Top Headlines Minnesota lawmaker shooting: Suspect arrested Ashanti Alert issued for 26-year-old man last seen in OKC He’s not Batman. He’s Alex Caruso. And he’s leading the Thunder in his own way in the NBA Finals Norman police arrest 25-year-old suspect in triple shooting Thunder Playoff Guide: OKC looks to take 3-2 lead against Pacers in NBA Finals
Juneteenth on the East is returning to Oklahoma City’s Eastside from June 19-21, marking its fifth year.
>> Download the KOCO 5 App | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel
Advertisement
The event will be a three-day celebration of Black freedom and culture organized by WithLove OKC.
Jabee Williams and Krista Rice, organizers of the event, shared their excitement on KOCO Monday morning, just days before the festivities begin.
“We incorporate art. We incorporate kids, and just celebrate liberation for everybody together,” Williams said.
The celebration kicks off Thursday with a panel on Black creativity, focusing on fashion.
“Thursday (is the) Black creativity panel. Our theme is threads, so we’re looking at fashion, right? So, we’ve got April Walker with Walker Wear coming through. We’ll be at the Innovation Hall Thursday night with a lineup of things and a panel discussion. The Oklahoma Cowboy Foundation, and then a plot of local designers, Group Fly and some others will be joining us,” said Krista Rice, detailing the lineup. “The cool thing is after the discussion, they’ll be showcasing two to three pieces, so we get a little fashion showcase, as well.”
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
Friday features a 5K run organized with Red Coyote, starting at 7 a.m.
The festival culminates on Saturday with live performances, headlined by rapper Big K.R.I.T., on NE 23rd Street between Hood and Kelham. The event is free to attend.
“Here in Oklahoma and here in America, we’re looking at celebrating. It’s all about joy. It’s all about fun. It’s all about the education of what Juneteenth is, as well, which is a celebration,” Rice said.
More information on the event can be found here.
Top Headlines
Check out was real simple, can't wait for the tote bag