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30th anniversary celebration of Juneteenth in Junction City Juneteenth began on June 19, 1865, when General Gordon Granger, backed up by Union troops, arrived in Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order No. 3—proclaiming that all people enslaved in Texas were henceforth free. Ever since that life-changing event, that date has been celebrated as “Juneteenth”—a combination of “June” and “19th”. The practice of celebrating Juneteenth spread throughout Texas and then to neighboring states and then throughout the country, in a hop-scotch pattern. One hundred fifty-six years after General Granger’s proclamation, on June 17, 2021, President Biden signed a declaration making Juneteenth an official federal holiday. During those 156 years, Juneteenth celebrations have been grassroots affairs—organized by community volunteers for their communities. Big or small, the celebrations always included educational and inspirational components, reflections on “freedom” in all its meanings, appreciations of community, and definitely, good food, good music, and good times. Here in Junction City, Juneteenth celebrations began 30 years ago. Following the Civil War, Black communities in Kansas had celebrated “Emancipation Day” in early August. After WW11, Black veterans in VFW Post #8773 organized August Emancipation Day celebrations, inviting all of Junction City to join in. When that generation passed away, however, freedom celebrations ceased. Into that gap stepped Ms. Deliliah Hamilton, Ms. Joniece Pitts, and Mr. Al Hope. Ms. Hamilton, then head of the Minority Center at KSU’s Hale Library but a resident of Junction City, had worked with Ms. Valerie Hope, a local educator, to start Juneteenth celebrations in Manhattan. Her husband was Al Hope, then head of Human Resources for Junction City. He and Ms. Hamilton decided to try something similar in Junction City. They invited all interested Junction Citians to join them in a Juneteenth organizing committee. One of the people who responded to that invitation was Ms. Joniece Pitts, a profoundly committed individual who agreed to assume leadership, while Ms. Hamilton, Mr. Hope, and other committee members played supporting roles. Soon Ms. Pitts was joined by Mr. Jim Sands, who for 25 years held multiple Juneteenth offices, including the presidency, and assumed multiple responsibilities to make every Juneteenth celebration larger and better than the one before. The first Juneteenth celebration in Junction City was a small gathering at the 12th Street Community Center and park in 1995. Despite increasing health challenges, Ms. Pitts continued to shepherd the organization until her death in 2012. Ms. Toni Mitchell-Dawson then served two years as president, followed by Mr. William Brooks. During Mr. Brooks’ tenure, our Juneteenth Community Association acquired IRS designation as a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational non-profit corporation. When Mr. Brooks’ productive term ended, I was honored to take the helm of this storied and inspiring organization, and I now serve as chair. The annual celebrations have steadily grown until today they are large, well organized community celebrations held in Heritage Park! Now every June, hundreds of local and regional visitors crowd the streets of downtown Junction City (JC) to participate in this festival, which is the oldest and largest annual African American cultural event in the United States and the largest in Geary County. Attendees range from children to elders and include students, active-duty military, retirees, tourists, and local residents, of all ethnicities. With an array of vendors and information booths, Juneteenth showcases what Junction City has to offer. Heritage Park fills with fascinating sights, sounds, and smells, as food merchants and craft vendors share their wares, while musicians, artists, performers, orators, and exhibitors share their talents. The Junction City Juneteenth Community Association is proud to announce the 30th anniversary celebration of its annual Juneteenth festival, taking place on Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 1 to 8 pm at Heritage Park in Junction City. This milestone event will feature a special lineup of presenters, live entertainment, and educational programming, all dedicated to honoring the significance of Juneteenth and promoting inclusivity for all. As always, the event remains free to the public, underscoring JCJCA’s commitment to making this celebration accessible to everyone. Over the past three decades, the festival has grown into a cornerstone of Junction City’s cultural calendar, highlighting the rich heritage and vibrant contributions of the African American community. In addition to the festival, JCJCA continues its mission of strengthening the community through impactful programs, including art and essay contests and scholarships for high school students. These initiatives reflect the organization’s dedication to education and civic engagement, ensuring that the spirit of Juneteenth extends beyond the annual celebration. For more information about the Junction City Juneteenth festival, including event details and sponsorship opportunities, contact Valerie Guy at valeire.guy10@gmail.com or call 785-375-3847 (leave a message).
30th anniversary celebration of Juneteenth in Junction City
Juneteenth began on June 19, 1865, when General Gordon Granger, backed up by Union troops, arrived in Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order No. 3—proclaiming that all people enslaved in Texas were henceforth free.
Ever since that life-changing event, that date has been celebrated as “Juneteenth”—a combination of “June” and “19th”. The practice of celebrating Juneteenth spread throughout Texas and then to neighboring states and then throughout the country, in a hop-scotch pattern. One hundred fifty-six years after General Granger’s proclamation, on June 17, 2021, President Biden signed a declaration making Juneteenth an official federal holiday.
During those 156 years, Juneteenth celebrations have been grassroots affairs—organized by community volunteers for their communities. Big or small, the celebrations always included educational and inspirational components, reflections on “freedom” in all its meanings, appreciations of community, and definitely, good food, good music, and good times.
Here in Junction City, Juneteenth celebrations began 30 years ago. Following the Civil War, Black communities in Kansas had celebrated “Emancipation Day” in early August. After WW11, Black veterans in VFW Post #8773 organized August Emancipation Day celebrations, inviting all of Junction City to join in. When that generation passed away, however, freedom celebrations ceased.
Into that gap stepped Ms. Deliliah Hamilton, Ms. Joniece Pitts, and Mr. Al Hope. Ms. Hamilton, then head of the Minority Center at KSU’s Hale Library but a resident of Junction City, had worked with Ms. Valerie Hope, a local educator, to start Juneteenth celebrations in Manhattan. Her husband was Al Hope, then head of Human Resources for Junction City. He and Ms. Hamilton decided to try something similar in Junction City. They invited all interested Junction Citians to join them in a Juneteenth organizing committee.
One of the people who responded to that invitation was Ms. Joniece Pitts, a profoundly committed individual who agreed to assume leadership, while Ms. Hamilton, Mr. Hope, and other committee members played supporting roles. Soon Ms. Pitts was joined by Mr. Jim Sands, who for 25 years held multiple Juneteenth offices, including the presidency, and assumed multiple responsibilities to make every Juneteenth celebration larger and better than the one before. The first Juneteenth celebration in Junction City was a small gathering at the 12th Street Community Center and park in 1995. Despite increasing health challenges, Ms. Pitts continued to shepherd the
organization until her death in 2012. Ms. Toni Mitchell-Dawson then served two years as president, followed by Mr. William Brooks. During Mr. Brooks’ tenure, our Juneteenth Community Association acquired IRS designation as a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational non-profit corporation. When Mr. Brooks’ productive term ended, I was honored to take the helm of this storied and inspiring organization, and I now serve as chair.
The annual celebrations have steadily grown until today they are large, well organized community celebrations held in Heritage Park!
Now every June, hundreds of local and regional visitors crowd the streets of downtown Junction City (JC) to participate in this festival, which is the oldest and largest annual African American cultural event in the United States and the largest in Geary County. Attendees range from children to elders and include students, active-duty military, retirees, tourists, and local residents, of all ethnicities. With an array of vendors and information booths, Juneteenth showcases what Junction City has to offer. Heritage Park fills with fascinating sights, sounds, and smells, as food merchants and craft vendors share their wares, while musicians, artists, performers, orators, and exhibitors share their talents.
The Junction City Juneteenth Community Association is proud to announce the 30th anniversary celebration of its annual Juneteenth festival, taking place on Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 1 to 8 pm at Heritage Park in Junction City. This milestone event will feature a special lineup of presenters, live entertainment, and educational programming, all dedicated to honoring the significance of Juneteenth and promoting inclusivity for all. As always, the event remains free to the public, underscoring JCJCA’s commitment to making this celebration accessible to everyone. Over the past three decades, the festival has grown into a cornerstone of Junction City’s cultural calendar, highlighting the rich heritage and vibrant contributions of the African American community.
In addition to the festival, JCJCA continues its mission of strengthening the community through impactful programs, including art and essay contests and scholarships for high school students. These initiatives reflect the organization’s dedication to education and civic engagement, ensuring that the spirit of Juneteenth extends beyond the annual celebration.
For more information about the Junction City Juneteenth festival, including event details and sponsorship opportunities, contact Valerie Guy at valeire.guy10@gmail.com or call 785-375-3847 (leave a message).