La Porte Prepares for Juneteenth

UltimatePasadena.com—June 16th, 2010

Juneteenth, celebrated for three decades by La Porte’s black community, is gaining wider participation, organizers say.

The event commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers brought news to Galveston that the Civil War had ended two months before and that slaves had been free for 2½ years.

The news gave belated freedom to about 250,000 Texans living in slavery.

La Porte’s Juneteenth celebration this year, under the theme of “Taking a Stand for What’s Right,” has drawn support from the entire community, said organizing team member Sherry Lowe.

“People are excited to be a part of it,” said Lowe, co-coordinator of the Juneteenth parade.
“Sponsorship has gone way up this year,” said Lowe, also La Porte Rotary Club community service director.

As something new this year, Lowe said, the Saturday festival will include drawings for giveaways from area businesses.

Radio personality Monetana from Houston station Praise 92.1 FM will be the festival host.

With a freshly restored beach at Sylvan Beach Park, Saturday’s Juneteenth observance could draw a large crowd, said Mary Gay, who organized La Porte’s first Juneteenth celebration in 1981 and has taken part every year since.

Other La Porte Juneteenth events this year are:
Prayer breakfast: 8-9:30 a.m. Thursday, sponsored by Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Sylvia Garcia, East Harris County Activity Center, 7340 Spencer Highway, Pasadena.

Community reunion: 7 p.m. Friday, Evelyn Kennedy Civic Center, 618 San Jacinto. Miss Juneteenth Pageant contestants will be introduced.

Coffee: 8:30-9:30 a.m. Saturday, Town Plaza Park, Broadway and Main streets.

Parade: 10 a.m. Saturday, starting at North Eighth and Main. Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia and 11 deputies will lead the parade on horseback. Parade participation is still open, Lowe said.

Festival: Begins after the parade and continues until about 6 p.m. at Sylvan Beach Park, Fairmont Parkway at Galveston Bay. The event will include free food, pageants, a domino contest, music, dancing and other activities.

Religious service: 3:30 p.m. June 20, place and speaker to be determined, scholarships to be awarded.

Baseball games: 6 p.m. June 21, Deotis Gay Memorial Park, next to Jennie Riley Center, 322 N. Main.

For more information about the Juneteenth celebration, call Mary Gay at 281-471-3259 or Sherry Lowe at 281-222-4432.