By T. Scott Boatright
Hundreds of Gramblinites along with friends and family hike braved the heat Saturday to participate in the city’s 2023 Juneteenth festivities, kicked off with the annual holiday parade rolling through the downtown “Village.”
Activities that followed at Grambling City Park included presentations by essay winners, music, live R&B music performances, vendors and adults and children’s games along with a car show held at the north end of “The Village.”
On Saturday night, a wine tasting celebration was held at the Grambling Community Center.
A Juneteenth Poetry Reading was held Sunday at City Hall and was followed by a Juneteenth Fathers Day Gala from 7 – 11 p.m. in the Black and Gold Room of GSU’s Favrot Student Union.
“It’s been a great Juneteenth so far,” said Grambling City Councilwoman and Grambling Juneteenth Committee Chair Cathy Holmes Jiles. “It’s been hot, but that didn’t stop the people from coming out and celebrating with us. It’s a great part of our history and it’s been a good weekend.”
Grambling’s Juneteenth celebration will wrap today, the anniversary of the actual Juneteenth founding event in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, with a Family Day that will feature a Youth Scholarship Kickball Game from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at City Park.
