An annual Lawrence event will celebrate Juneteenth with Underground Railroad site tours, a parade, food trucks, live music and family fun.
The last enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas learned of the Emancipation Proclamation on June 19, 1865. A national holiday, Juneteenth commemorates Black heritage and independence.
The daylong Juneteenth celebration is scheduled for Saturday, June 14 in downtown Lawrence. All ages are welcome, and entry is free.
First, the Underground Railroad Bus Tour is set for 8 to 10 a.m. Developed by Watkins Museum of History, the tour will take participants to explore three historic sites in Lawrence. Two buses will load up at the southeast corner of South Park before heading out. Tours are free, but those interested in joining must register ahead of time on Eventbrite, reserving spots for either the first bus or the second bus.
New this year, a 1K Fun Run hosted by the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence will travel from North Park Street to Seventh Street and back along Massachusetts Street. Check-in is at 9:30 a.m. T-shirts for the run are sold out, but anyone can register for free to participate.
The parade is set for 11 a.m., beginning at Eighth Street and traveling south on Massachusetts Street. Afterward, the festivities continue through 8 p.m. at South Park and into the street, which will be blocked off for the day.
There will be oral history stations and a kids corner. Vendors selling food, art and other goods will be set up, and local organizations will share resources and volunteering opportunities at tables. Live performances lined up include music, spoken word and more from local artists.
Additionally, winners of the annual Juneteenth essay contest for high schoolers will be awarded at the celebration. Applicants could submit original essays, poems, songs or raps to interpret this year’s theme, “Standing as one … Love over fear.”
Opportunities to volunteer to decorate floats, help with setup and more during the celebration are available through an online signup form via signupgenius.com.
An American Red Cross blood drive for patients who have sickle cell disease is happening from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, June 13 at Brandon Woods Smith Center, 4730 Brandon Woods Terr. in Lawrence. Learn more about the drive and sign up to donate via the Red Cross website, redcrossblood.org.
Learn more about the 2025 Lawrence Juneteenth celebration on its website, lawrenceksjuneteenth.org. Follow its Facebook page to stay updated.
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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