Festival Extends to Two-Days and Kicks Off in front of City Hall
Syracuse Common Councilor Rasheada Caldwell and SU Women’s Basketball Coach Felisha Legette-Jack serve as Grand Marshals
Syracuse, NY— The Syracuse Juneteenth Committee Inc. announced the 32nd annual Juneteenth Cultural Festival and Parade is returning to Downtown Syracuse on June 17 and 18. The Juneteenth Festival will take place on the 200 block of East Washington Street in front of City Hall. The festival kicks off Friday June 17 at 12:00 p.m. during a City Hall flag Raising Ceremony.
The parade procession begins Saturday, June 18th at 11:00 a.m. in front of the Dunbar Center. The route will travel through the South Side and proceed up N Salina Street to arrive in front of City Hall to continue day two of festivities. Grand Marshals for the 2022 parade will be Syracuse Common Councilwoman Rasheada Caldwell and Syracuse University Women’s Basketball Coach Felisha Legette-Jack.
“Bringing the festival back has been a big lift but we’re excited to do it and to bring residents and vendors back together to celebrate the national holiday with the rest of the community that has held it dear for more than three decades. Syracuse has made countless Black contributions to our city and history. We’re excited to see families come down and celebrate what that means,” said Syracuse Juneteenth President Kevin Henry. “We’re so appreciative to new and returning partners and sponsors who are making this possible. Now it’s time for families and workers to step away from the work and come down to City Hall to enjoy the festivities.”
Festival entertainment lineup continues to bring together local and national acts and can be found on www.syracusejuneteenth.org
Friday June 17
12:00 p.m. @ City Hall Front Steps – Juneteenth Flag Raising
Lineup
- Friday DJ John
- (Atrium) Miss Juneteenth Pageant Doors Open at 5:30 p.m.
- (Stage) Salvation Army Gospel Choir
- (Stage) Burnell Reid and United Praise
- (Stage) UAD
- (Stage) Atlas
Saturday June 18
- 11:00 parade begins at Dunbar Center
- 12:00 p.m. – Parade Arrival in Downtown
(Stage) Fashion Show - (Stage) Lindsey Williams and Divine Connection
- (Stage) Meditations
- (Stage) Trump Tight 315
- (Stage) Jon B, National Recording Artist
The festival is also bringing back games for children and families, crafts, African dancers, and is partnering with youth organizer, Kenyata Calloway, to bring back the Miss and Little Miss Juneteenth Pageant which will be Friday June 17. The committee is also bringing back the annual Ancestral Dinner on June 24. More information will be made available on the http://syracusejuneteenth.org website.
Syracuse’s annual celebration of Juneteenth commemorates with what is now a national holiday commemorating the June 19, 1865 announcement to the slaves of Galveston, Texas that the Civil War was over, and that slavery was abolished. The festival, like many other public gatherings, had been canceled because of COVID-19. The interruption hindered opportunities for many pop-up vendors and retailers to earn income and connect with consumers. Questions about Juneteenth can be emailed to GetInvolved@syracusejuneteenth.org
