JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS IN WASHINGTON CO. BEGIN SATURDAY

  

Washington County’s celebration of Juneteenth kicks off this weekend.

The Washington County Historical Juneteenth Association (WCHJA) will host a series of family-friendly activities throughout the next two weeks, in commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.  The celebration culminates with the return of the parade through downtown Brenham and a community jubilee at Fireman’s Park on Saturday, June 18^th.

The 2022 Juneteenth Royalty are Senior Queen and King Opre’Auhna Graves and Eric Hemphill, and Junior Queen and King Kearstyn Wolfe and Johnathan Lewis.

Festivities begin tomorrow (Saturday) with the Juneteenth Gala, themed “A Red Carpet Affair”, at 8 p.m. at the Washington County Expo Event Center.

That will be followed by the Juneteenth Coronation on Saturday, June 11^th at 6 p.m. at the Blinn College Student Center Banquet Room.  The theme for the coronation is “Odyssey of Elegance”.

A gospel musical will be held on Sunday, June 12^th at 3 p.m. at New Life Church of God.

The WCHJA will then host several activities at local parks, including a health and wellness walk on Tuesday, June 14^th at 6 p.m. at Jackson Street Park; an art and talent fun day on Wednesday, June 15^th at 6 p.m. at Henderson Park; and “Coolin’ in the Park” on Thursday, June 16^th at 6 p.m. at Hattie Mae Flowers Park.

The community jubilee kick-off at Fireman’s Park will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 17^th, and will feature music from the Brown Sugar Band.

Opening ceremonies for the parade on the 18^th get underway at 9:30 a.m. on the courthouse square.  The parade, themed “A Celebration of Diversity”, begins at 10:30 a.m., led by grand marshal Reverend Randy Wells.  The parade will include a drum line performance from the Bulldog Express from Waller.  Festivities will then move over to Fireman’s Park after the parade for the jubilee.

KWHI will have a live broadcast from the Juneteenth parade on AM 1280, FM 101.7 and kwhi.com.