Garland 2023 Juneteenth Celebration

Date: June 17, 2023

Time: 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Location(s):

Audubon Park - 972-205-3991

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The City of Garland is proud to be hosting its annual Juneteenth event Saturday, June 17, from 5:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at Audubon Park.

Bring the whole family out to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people with a celebration of freedom and unification through dance, speakers, and live music.

Food trucks, a children’s activity area, and an area to reflect on the day’s historical significance will also be present.

360 Photo Booth is sponsored in part by National Business Furniture via BOLD365.

Thank you to Garland Water Utilities for sponsoring the water activities.

Guest Speaker: Reuben Lael

Reuben Lael is a dynamic performer, artist and songwriter. With a soulful voice and heartfelt lyrics, he has captivated audiences with his unique blend of old-school, R&B and contemporary pop influences.

Growing up, Reuben was exposed to a wide variety of genres from an early age, which helped shape his distinctive sound. He has performed at numerous venues throughout the USA and has shared the stage with many notable artists in the industry.

In addition to his music career, Reuben is also a passionate advocate for social justice and empowerment, and his music often reflects his mission to build a better world for everyone. Reuben Lael is definitely an artist to watch in the R&B world.

On Saturday, June 17, hear Reuben speak on why we celebrate Juneteenth.

Rob Holbert Group ft. Rick James

The Rob Holbert Group is well known for delivering Smooth Jazz, Standards, and Classics. Their variety of music and the sometimes eclectic arrangements of songs set them apart from most other Jazz groups today. The group can also perform a variety of lively R&B covers and dance music that's sure to make any event exciting!!

Rob Holbert, the saxophonist /vocalist, has performed professionally for many years and has shared the stage with a cavalcade of stars. Opening for world-renowned acts such as The Average White Band and Jazz Pianist Alex Bugnon, he has also performed with, recorded with, or shared the stage with a vast and diverse number of performers such as Bobby Bland, Gospel Artist Tommye Young-West, Pieces of a Dream,Betty Wright, Doug E.Fresh, Red Young, Smooth Jazz Artist Althea Rene, Joe McBride, Benita Arteberry, Yarborough and Peoples, Jazz Educator Phil Wilson, former Tonight Show Drummer Ed Shaunessy, The P Funk AllStars, Jazz pianist and vocalist Ronnie Foster, The Legendary Bernard Wright and Grammy Nominee Breggett Rideau.

Food Trucks

All-in-One Cuisine

Fire For The Lord BBQ

HTeaO Garland

Kona Ice North Garland

Street Eatery

Texas 2 Step Boils

Sponsors

National Business Furniture

Garland Water Utilities

Scenes from Garland Juneteenth 2022

Garland proudly hosted its inaugural Juneteenth event on June 19, 2022, featuring food, music, and the meaning of this important day.

Juneteenth: Freedom Comes to Texas

The Texas Historical Commission hosted a discussion, in 2022, that retraces how Freedom was spread in Texas.

Why Celebrating Juneteenth is Important

"Juneteenth is important, because it reminds us of what we came through and what we can achieve. ...the reason General Order Number 3 existed and the Union Army fought to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation, is because slavery existed. It's important to remember what we went through and that we were able to get out of the bondage of slavery as a nation. It's an important reminder and it’s important that we understand what it took. It's also important that the Juneteenth holiday survives. It allows each generation to reflect what more there is to do. Juneteenth places Black people at the center of the conversation about freedom, it's meaning and manifestation in this nation.

July 4th is about liberty, but it was an imperfect liberty, because slavery still legally existed in the nation. Both holidays should be acknowledged because they are important moments in our shared history.

We should regularly consider the evolution of the meaning of freedom as we look at certain moments in the nation’s past and present. Someone can deeply appreciate why Juneteenth was important for the Poor People's Campaign. Why Juneteenth is important in relation to the events in relation to the disproportionate and unfair deaths of African Americans. Why Juneteenth is important when we think about enforcing our rights to vote and how we define citizenship in this nation.

Juneteenth should really be a rallying call for all of us to think about the meaning of freedom, particularly regarding African Americans, as well as to the nation and the rest of the world."

Mary Elliott

Curator of American Slavery at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC)
Source: "Why is Juneteenth Important”- NMAAHC.si.edu

I think that Juneteenth is a necessary moment of observation because our government and, to a certain degree, our nation and our culture has not really acknowledged the trauma of 4 million enslaved people and their descendants. It hasn’t acknowledged the impact this institution has had on this country and continues to have on this country. There hasn’t been a national accounting, and I think the Juneteenth holiday is kind of a reminder of that. And it will continue to be a reminder and a haunting until we do. It’s necessary, but it isn’t sufficient in terms of what we need to when it comes to acknowledging this history.

Karlos Hill
Professor of African and African-American studies at the University of Oklahoma and author of Beyond the Rope: The Impact of Lynching on Black Culture and Memory.

Source: "Why celebrating Juneteenth is More Important Now than Ever ”; P.R. Lockhart Jun 19, 2018

Category(s):

Events & Festivals

Free Fun

Family Friendly