Long Beach celebrates 4th annual Juneteenth event with headliner Anderson .Paak

Thousands gathered at Long Beach’s Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 15, to celebrate Juneteenth — with a special headlining performance from musician Anderson .Paak under his musical alter-ego, DJ Pee .Wee.

This year’s event marked Long Beach’s fourth annual Juneteenth commemoration of June 19, 1865, the date on which Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to the last enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

The Greater L.A. Cathedral Choir performs at the 3rd annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at Rainbow Lagoon in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Reginald Paul, center, performs during Long Beach’s 4th annual Juneteenth celebration at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 15, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Attendees dance to the music at the 3rd annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at Rainbow Lagoon in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Severina Britto, left, and Muriel Clark sway to the music at the 3rd annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at Rainbow Lagoon in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Large crowds attend the the 3rd annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 17, 2023, featuring musical performances, vendor booths and food trucks at Rainbow Lagoon in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Gloria Casimir, visiting from New York City, dances on a sunny day at the 3rd annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at Rainbow Lagoon in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Jacqueline Brent of Los Angeles moves to the music at the 3rd annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at Rainbow Lagoon in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Faith Harris of North Hollywood dances during Long Beach’s 4th annual Juneteenth celebration at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 15, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Kandace Waters-Hill performs during Long Beach’s 4th annual Juneteenth celebration at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 15, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Queen Yaa and nine-month-old Sirius Joy dance during Long Beach’s 4th annual Juneteenth celebration at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 15, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Founder, Carl Kemp speaks during Long Beach’s 4th annual Juneteenth celebration at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 15, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Kamilah Holmes of Long Beach plays a game of spades during Long Beach’s 4th annual Juneteenth celebration at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 15, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach’s 4th annual Juneteenth celebration at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 15, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Elyse Imamura of Torrence leads a game of Uno during Long Beach’s 4th annual Juneteenth celebration at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 15, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
From left, Nia Jones and Lauren Jones dance during Long Beach’s 4th annual Juneteenth celebration at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 15, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Seafood Sam performs during Long Beach’s 4th annual Juneteenth celebration at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 15, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Attendees of Long Beach’s 4th annual Juneteenth celebration dance at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 15, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Naujala Brock of Long Beach poses for a photograph during Long Beach’s 4th annual Juneteenth celebration at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 15, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Reginald Paul, center, performs during Long Beach’s 4th annual Juneteenth celebration at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 15, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Kandace Waters-Hill performs during Long Beach’s 4th annual Juneteenth celebration at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 15, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Peddle boats slowly pass by Long Beach’s 4th annual Juneteenth celebration at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 15, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Veronica Camille Ratliff of V.C.R performs during Long Beach’s 4th annual Juneteenth celebration at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 15, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Faith Harris of North Hollywood dances during Long Beach’s 4th annual Juneteenth celebration at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 15, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
From left Amani Kingstro poses for a photograph with Miss Black Global Destini Perkins during Long Beach’s 4th annual Juneteenth celebration at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 15, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Mayor Rex Richardson and his wife, Dr. Nina Richardson, welcome the crowd to the 3rd annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at Rainbow Lagoon in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Kathy Timmons of San Pedro enjoys the Juneteenth celebration with her year-old granddaughter, Royal, on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at Rainbow Lagoon in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
A family sits near the stage at the 3rd annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 17, 2023, featuring musical performances, vendor booths and food trucks at Rainbow Lagoon in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Large crowds attend the the 3rd annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 17, 2023, featuring musical performances, vendor booths and food trucks at Rainbow Lagoon in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Large crowds attend the the 3rd annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 17, 2023, featuring musical performances, vendor booths and food trucks at Rainbow Lagoon in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
The Greater L.A. Cathedral Choir performs at the 3rd annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at Rainbow Lagoon in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
The Dembrebrah Drum and Dance Ensemble performs at the 3rd annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at Rainbow Lagoon in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
The Dembrebrah Drum and Dance Ensemble performs at the 3rd annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at Rainbow Lagoon in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Shawnda Douglas of Long Beach was dancing to the music from the moment she entered the 3rd annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at Rainbow Lagoon in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Large crowds attend the the 3rd annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 17, 2023, featuring musical performances, vendor booths and food trucks at Rainbow Lagoon in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

Juneteenth marks the formal end of slavery after the Civil War, and has been celebrated by Black Americans for generations. It officially became a federal holiday in 2021.

Revelers at Long Beach’s celebration, meanwhile, enjoyed step-shows, a variety of live performances, art, poems, food vendors and of course, .Paak’s special set, during the sold out Juneteenth event.