Details of 2022 Juneteenth celebration announced

The Saturday, June 18, rain or shine event featuring live performances, cultural arts, food, and wellness information, runs Noon-5:00 PM

ALBANY, NY: Details of Albany’s Premier Freedom Festival were announced today, June 7. Joining African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region Executive Director Travon T. Jackson and Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) Executive Director Georgette Steffens in sharing information for the Capital Region’s premier Juneteenth celebration were Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan, Assemblymember John T. McDonald, Assemblymember Patricia Fahy, Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy, Albany County Comptroller Susan Rizzo, and event sponsors and partners.

Free and open to the public, Albany’s Juneteenth event commemorates slavery’s abolition in the US, and is aimed at educating and uplifting through entertainment, vendors, food. Based at the African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region at 135 South Pearl Street, attendees are encouraged to explore vendors and businesses along the South Pearl Street corridor that speak to the diversity, familial roots, and resiliency of the neighborhood. 2021 represented the Cultural Center’s largest Juneteenth celebration to date in terms of space, vendors, and attendance as South Pearl Street was closed, allowing visitors additional space to experience all aspects of the day. With the street closure between Madison Avenue and Westerlo Street, and additional space vendor space thanks to the South End Grocery parking lot, organizers anticipate attendance this year will exceed last year’s approximately 6,000 people.

The schedule for this year’s event includes:

  • 12:00 PM | The African Heritage Parade concludes at South End Grocery
  • 12:30 PM | Salutation: Ms. Linda Jackson-Chalmers, President
  • 12:35 PM | Opening Remarks: Mr. Travon T. Jackson, Executive Director
  • 12:45 PM | Invocation: Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing (Black National Anthem) by James Weldon Johnson & J. Rosamond Johnson
  • 12:50 PM | Opening Performances: Qualiti, Liana’kim, and Kai-Yola
  • 1:00 PM | CAPCOM FCU Children’s Zone Kickoff: Young Futures, Inc.
  • 1:00 PM | Vidbel Mountain Petting Zoo Opening
  • 1:00 PM | Ben & Jerry’s Free Ice Cream Giveaway
  • 1:15 PM | South End Grocery Announcement: South Albany Grocery Coalition
  • 1:30 PM | Afternoon Performances: Qualiti, Liana’kim, and Kai-Yola
  • 3:30 PM | Youth Performance: Hip Hop and Community Praise Dance Team
  • 4:00 PM | Closing Performance: Out of the Box Band
  • 5:00 PM | Festival Closing

Full event information and updates can be found in the Facebook event page here. Those interested in volunteering at the event can find more information here.

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and the enslaved were now free; this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation - which had become official January 1, 1863. Juneteenth celebrations are held annually on or around June 19th across the United States in celebration of this freedom. In 2020, the City of Albany recognized Juneteenth as an official holiday, and in 2021 it became a Federal, New York State, and Albany County holiday.

African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region Executive Director Travon T. Jackson said: “We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support we experience at our Juneteenth celebration, which last year alone attracted over 6,000 people, through attendees, partners, and sponsors. As we honor this day of freedom, we are also responding with respect, love, and inclusion to those who’ve attacked our spaces. Through Juneteenth and year-round events hosted at the Cultural Center and soon here at the South End Grocery, we seek to actively empower our neighborhood, and we are thankful for those who support our organization and our mission.”

Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said: “It is wonderful to see our community give Juneteenth the proper acknowledgement that it deserves.  I want to thank the African American Cultural Center for assuming the role of host to this commemorative day marked with recognition speeches, performances and other festivities that will educate and inspire every attendee. I encourage everyone to join this celebration and experience the true meaning of Juneteenth.”

Assemblymember John T. McDonald said: "The Juneteenth holiday celebrates the news finally arriving in Galveston, Texas that the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed into law and that enslaved people were freed. This Capital Region celebration, like the others that will be held around the country, seeks to educate all on the history of Juneteenth and provides an opportunity to come together to reflect and celebrate perseverance. Thank you to the African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region for continuing to organize this important event and for the many partners who work together to make it a success."

Assemblymember Patricia Fahy said: “Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom and liberty. Marking the end of slavery in the United States when the last slaves were freed in Galveston, Texas, it is vital that we recognize the history behind the holiday and its meaning to so many of our communities. I encourage everyone in the Capital Region to join the celebration of Juneteenth on South Pearl Street Saturday, June 18, and to learn more about our shared history and support our community.”

Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy said: “Just as the Emancipation Proclamation didn’t truly end slavery in the United States, we know that despite the progress we’ve made towards fighting for equality and against discrimination, there is still more work to be done. Juneteenth is an important day for our community to come together, to celebrate the end of a dark chapter in our history, and to honor the African American culture that is part of the fabric of Albany County. I’m thrilled to see how this Juneteenth event has grown and I look forward to continuing our work with local partners towards true equity and lifting up our minority communities.”

Downtown Albany BID Executive Director Georgette Steffens said: “We are proud to partner with Travon and his team on this uplifting event. In recent years, Juneteenth has rightfully so been recognized officially by all levels of government, and through the Cultural Center’s efforts not only has this commemoration been recognized on a larger scale, but it also serves to uplift and engage our local community, providing an incredible opportunity for area residents and visitors to come and experience all that this vibrant neighborhood has to offer. We look forward to seeing you here next weekend!”