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Lawrence Juneteenth celebration brings joy to Mass Street

by Maya Smith and Jacob Rice
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Attendees dance during the second day of the Lawrence Juneteenth celebration, June 20, 2026.
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Community members gathered on Massachusetts Street and in South Park Saturday for the annual Juneteenth parade and a celebration filled with dancing, food and live entertainment.

This is the first year the Lawrence Kansas Juneteenth Organization hosted two days worth of festivities for the holiday. 

Some local folks were recognized with awards for service to the community, and winners of the organization’s annual essay contest were given their $500 prizes. (Read more from the essay contest in this article.)

The national holiday recognizes the day the last enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas learned of the Emancipation Proclamation on June 19, 1865, and celebrates Black liberation, heritage and independence.

Maya Smith / Lawrence Times Jayla Colter, Jaxson Coleman and Justyss Smith lead the Juneteenth parade down Massachusetts Street.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times Members of North KC Purple Diamonds perform in the Juneteenth parade.
Maya Smith / Lawrence Times Members of the North KC Purple Diamonds perform during the parade.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times Participants in the Juneteenth parade walk down Massachusetts street.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times Lawrence city commissioners and Douglas County commissioners ride in a float in the Juneteenth parade.
Maya Smith / Lawrence Times Lawrence City Commissioner Amber Sellers rides in a float down Massachusetts Street during the Juneteenth parade.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times A representatvie of Lawrence Transit hands out candy to spectators at the Juneteenth parade.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times KU Hip Hop Dance members perform in the Juneteenth parade.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times Steve Jordan (left) and Jill Jordan watch the Juneteenth parade on Massachusetts street.
Maya Smith / Lawrence Times Members of Unity High Steppers perform.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times Members of the Gateway Highsteppers perform during the Juneteenth parade.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times Spectators watch member of the Gateway Highsteppers perform during the Juneteenth parade.
Maya Smith / Lawrence Times Members of the Gateway Highsteppers perform during the parade.
Maya Smith / Lawrence Times Members of the Gateway Highsteppers perform during the parade.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times Spectators of the Juneteenth parade watch a line of three-wheeled vehicles drive on Massachusetts street.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times Representatives of Lawrence Theatre drive in the Juneteenth parade.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times Attendees of the Juneteenth celebration visit vendors and organizations tabling at South Park.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times Vendors sold Juneteenth-themed products along the pathways at South Park.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times Attendees visit food trucks at South Park.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times DJ Bizzy speaks to the crowd at the Juneteenth celebration.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times Attendees dance to the Cupid Shuffle.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times Merchandise at the Juneteenth celebration
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times Yung Flossa performs onstage at the Juneteenth celebration.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times The Masked Mushroom (standing), aka the Mushroom Man, attends the Juneteenth celebration.
Maya Smith / Lawrence Times Zya Henderson looks at her face paint in the mirror at the Juneteenth celebration kid’s corner.
Maya Smith / Lawrence Times Attendees dance the Electric Slide during the Juneteenth celebration.
Maya Smith / Lawrence Times Attendees dance the Electric Slide during the Juneteenth celebration.
Maya Smith / Lawrence Times Attendees interact while dancing at the Juneteenth celebration.
Maya Smith / Lawrence Times Attendees dance during the Juneteenth celebration.
Maya Smith / Lawrence Times Attendees dance the Cha Cha Slide during the Juneteenth celebration.
Maya Smith / Lawrence Times Joshua Eason receives an award for his essay at the Juneteenth celebration.
Maya Smith / Lawrence Times Chelsea Oparaji (center) receives an award for her essay at the Juneteenth celebration.
Maya Smith / Lawrence Times Maria Kauffman Fisher, the mother of Noelle Fisher, receives an award on behalf of Noelle. Noelle wrote the third award-winning essay but was unable to attend the celebration.
Maya Smith / Lawrence Times Kerry Altenbernd (left) receives an award.
Maya Smith / Lawrence Times Christina Gentry receives an award.

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Maya Smith (she/her), reporting intern, has worked with The Lawrence Times since February 2026. She was born and raised in Lawrence and is a journalism student at the University of Kansas. She works at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications as a communications assistant and has been a freelance reporter for the Kansas Reflector since 2024. Read her work for the Times at this link.

Jacob Rice (he/him), photo editor, has worked with The Lawrence Times since March 2026. He can be reached at [email protected].

Read his complete bio here. Check out his photography for the Times here. Read his articles for the Times at this link. 

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