Juneteenth events coming up in Tyler

Published 5:15 am Friday, June 14, 2024

Several events are set in Tyler to commemorate Juneteenth. 

Juneteenth, which became a federal holiday in 2021, honors the emancipation of enslaved people and the ending of slavery in 1865. It is celebrated annually on June 19 to mark when news of the Emancipation Proclamation finally came to Texas on June 19, 1865.

Coming up on Friday evening is the annual Gospel Fest set for 6:30 p.m. at College Hill Missionary Baptist Church, located at 1314 W. Houston St., Tyler.

An event many look forward to each year is the Juneteenth Association of Tyler annual Juneteenth Parade. It is set to begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 15 on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The parade will end at Woldert Park.

Also, Texas African American Museum in Tyler will host a Juneteenth celebration event filled with games, food and entertainment. The event kicks off at 10 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. June 19 at the museum, located at 309 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd in Tyler. The public is invited to attend at no cost.

TAAM Executive Director Gloria Washington said there will be free food, games for the kids, a one act play from Longview performers. Attendees will get to learn about the importance of Juneteenth.

The National African American Historical Society will be hosting a Juneteenth Family Reunion Extravaganza from 5 – 9 p.m. on Friday, June 14th at the Flores Center, located on 11237 Hwy 14 in Tyler.

Families in East Texas have been invited to share their family history with attendees. Milton Wallace, council member for the City of Chandler, will be the guest speaker. The event is a fundraiser to help with the restoration of the building that houses the National African American Museum, located at 200 S. Glenwood Blvd. in Tyler.