Annual Juneteenth Festival held in Wilmington
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington’s Annual Juneteenth Festival was held on Saturday.
The festival held at Maides Park hosted dozens of vendors and nonprofit organizations from across the Cape Fear, and a stage for live music.
Juneteenth celebrates the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 and the eventual freedom of enslaved African Americans two years later on June 19, 1865. The holiday is federally recognized on June 17 every year.
As founding member of the Juneteenth Committee of Wilmington Abdul Shareef explains, the festival seeks to educate and celebrate history.
“We want to educate, empower, energize, and emancipate through the celebration of our history,” he said.
The Juneteenth Committee of Wilmington will also be hosting a number of events this week.
