CINCINNATI, Ohio ― For the past 33 years the Cincinnati Juneteenth Festival has brought thousands of people to Eden Park, but this year, things are a little different.
“Juneteenth continues every year to be a learning experience, but our first year and this year has been the biggest learning experience,” said Lydia Morgan, Cincinnati Juneteenth Festival organizer.
What You Need To Know
- Cincinnati Juneteenth Festival will go virtual this year due to COVID-19
- The virtual celebration was made into a film that will be broadcast on television
- The virtual festival will be featured on June 19, 20 and 21
Since 1988, Morgan, along with the help from a committee and other sponsors, has been putting together this annual event.
Every year it begins with a parade of flags, a march to Seasongood Pavilion and a then a
celebration with music, food and entertainment. But this year, everything will be showcased through a film on TV.
“We tried to make that whole hour film, show you what it would be like to be at a Juneteenth festival and it’s really cool.”
In the film people will also learn more about Cincinnati’s black history and the Ohio River.
“The Ohio River plays a very important piece in American history and freeing slaves,” said Virginia Patterson, Cincinnati Juneteenth Festival committee member. “And not only the struggles that the slaves went through during that time of freedom, but the people that helped the slaves into Freedom.”
Both Morgan and Patterson believe an event like this is needed right now, especially during today’s climate and people’s eagerness to learn the reason behind the Black Lives Matter movement.
“I think they want to know more about Black history, the struggles that we have been through and I think that’s very important that Juneteenth will be highlighting that this weekend so that there can be more education, enjoy black music and artists and black art and all of those things that were part of America too,” she said.
The virtual festival will be featured on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. For more details, visit their website.
