Austin ISD staff members, students and the Austin community will celebrate Juneteenth by participating in the 150th annual Juneteenth Emancipation Parade and a Juneteenth Music Festival.
Music Festival
When: 6 p.m. Friday, June 19
What: The Juneteenth Music Festival is replacing the Alvin Patterson Battle of the Bands. The festival, hosted by local musician Bavu Blakes, will feature local bands Boss Street, Serafia, Soul Supporters and The Bare Feat. There will also be special performances by students in the AISD All Star marching band, dance team and majorettes. Admission is $5.
Where: AISD Performing Arts Center, 1500 Barbara Jordan Blvd.
For more information, please contact band director Ormide Armstrong at 512-414-7686.
Parade
When: 10 a.m. Saturday, June 20
What: Students from several schools—including Campbell Elementary School, Gus Garcia Young Men's Leadership Academy, Murchison Middle School, Liberal Arts and Science Academy and Travis High School—will be marching in the parade. More than 100 people marched in the 2014 parade, and organizers have set a goal of 150 celebrants this year.
Where: Participants should meet at 9:45 a.m. at Disch-Falk Field, 1300 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., for the parade to Rosewood Park, 2300 Rosewood Ave.
Background: Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas in June 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect. The official holiday is June 19. The Greater East Austin Youth Association, the City of Austin and Austin Parks and Recreation sponsor the parade.
For more information, please contact the Department of Communications and Community Engagement at 512-414-2414 or visit www.juneteenthcentraltexas.com.