Chairs lined the street between red, green and yellow decorations on Broadway in Columbia Saturday morning. Candy flew through the air at 9 a.m. sharp as The District’s Juneteenth parade began.

The parade started on Broadway at Waugh Street and featured floats, dancers, cheerleaders, old cars — and residents showing their support for Juneteenth. People lined the streets cheering and collecting candy that parade participants threw from their floats.







Organizers say Columbia Juneteenth celebrations 'keep history alive'

Columbia residents threw candy for viewers and drove in the parade on Broadway, which started at 9 a.m.




Columbia resident Mary Bell attended the parade, and for her, this day was an opportunity to celebrate the rich Black history in Juneteenth.

“I’m 54; I feel it is important to know my history — all of my history — and to pass it on to my children that our freedom is important,” Bell said.

Evie Allen, an evening anchor at KOMU 8, was the grand marshal for the parade.

The parade wasn’t the only celebration on Saturday for the holiday. Douglass Park drew pop-up shops and performances starting at 11 a.m. Anyone was welcome to shop the Juneteenth deals from local vendors and read about the history of June 19 in America.







Organizers say Columbia Juneteenth celebrations 'keep history alive'

Pop-up vendors visited Douglass Park Saturday, one selling body oils with a sale for Juneteenth.




Donna Clayborne is the creator of Grand Pooh Bear Designs and was responsible for organizing the event. Clayborne arrived at the park at 7 a.m. to begin setting up and said this day is worth all the time and work.

“We have to know where we come from so we know where we’re going,” Clayborne said. “We have to remember the struggles that it took us to become free. All the hardships and the lives that were lost — we must remember that. Because nowadays they don’t teach it in schools, and it’s eventually going to be lost to our children and grandchildren and great grandchildren. So, we must keep history alive — the correct version of history, not a watered-down version,” Clayborne said.







Organizers say Columbia Juneteenth celebrations 'keep history alive'

Custom graphics on display at Douglass Park featured history and information behind the celebration of Juneteenth.




Clayborne made Juneteenth graphics boards that were on display in the park, and she hopes the children in attendance were able to not only enjoy the vendors but also read some of the displays and learn about their history.

“I hope the parents take them to the pop-up and really teach them the education that’s on display down there,” Clayborne said.