LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Louisville’s Juneteenth Festival was held at a new venue this year, but the celebration of freedom, culture and community remained the same.
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, commemorates the day in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to order freedom for the enslaved people of the state — two months after the Confederacy had surrendered in the Civil War. The federal holiday is annually observed on June 19.
This year, Juneteenth Festival organizers partnered with Louisville’s professional soccer clubs to host the fifth annual festival at Lynn Family Stadium.
IMAGES | Louisville Juneteenth Festival hosted at Lynn Family Stadium
Aaron Jordan, the founder and organizer of the festival, called the new venue a blessing in disguise. The festival was previously held at the Belvedere in downtown Louisville.
“Lynn Family Stadium brought it up in a conversation during a meeting,” Jordan said.
More than 100 black-owned businesses and vendors were set up to show off their best products.
“It’s a very big opportunity, I am glad to be invited to it,” Keith Griffith III said. “It’s good to have an event for Black-owned businesses. It’s a great thing for the community.”
Griffith, an incoming senior at Trinity High School, owns Beeing2gether. He started the business that offers honey, soap and other bee-related products at 11 years old.
Some of Griffith’s products are sold at ValuMarket, Blak Koffee and Rainbow Blossom.
For Tiara McKinney, it’s the first time her business has visited Louisville’s festival. She has a variety of business ventures, including Angel’s Lemonade Stand, Holders Angels Moving Company, Angels Party Rentals and a mobile video game rental space.
“I am able to give back to my community by hiring young people to help out,” McKinney said. “The growth is definitely important, I have children myself so seeing the milestones and the growth we’ve come from other generations, seeing the potential we could go is imperative.”
Festival organizers expected between 6,000 to 15,000 attendees this year. There was live music, DJs, awards presented and cultural celebrations throughout the day.
Jordan encouraged people to support Black-owned businesses at the festival and throughout the year.
“It’s super important in terms of economic empowerment because businesses need revenue to survive,” Jordan said. “This is a perfect platform to be able to celebrate culture and these Black businesses.”
Juneteenth will be celebrated nationally on June 19. 502 Black Business Week officially begins June 16, a week-long celebration aiming to promote Black-owned businesses.
To learn more about Louisville Juneteenth Festival, click here.
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