This Saturday, June 20th, local community leaders from "Kujichagulia" and the Madison Center for Self Determination have once again organized a "Juneteenth Day" celebration. There is actually a number of different events taking place around Juneteenth Day, but two of the main features of this annual celebration will have new venues in 2015.
First, the event venue has moved this year from its long run at Penn Park over to Olin Park off of John Nolan Drive and along the shores of Lake Monona. Parking over the years for vendors and attendees has been a growing issue at Penn Park. This new location at Olin Park will provide for a much larger and simply beautiful setting for the Juneteenth Day celebration going forward.
Secondly, the annual Saturday afternoon food and music celebration is always preceeded by the "Juneteenth Parade." This year, the parade participants will stage beginning at 10:15 a.m. on the grounds of the Alliant Energy Center. At 11:00 a.m. (or somewhere around that time), MPD Community Policing Team officers will lead the Juneteenth Day parade procession down Olin Avenue, across John Nolan Drive, into Olin Park and eventually up the hill to the Olin Park shelter where the afternoon celebration will be held. Hopefully, all rain will hold off until later in the day on Saturday. The MPD South District has for many years assisted and partnered with community leaders in planning the parade and afternoon Juneteenth Day celebration. If you are out and about on Saturday, please consider stopping out and sharing in this 150th anniversary of Juneteenth and the emancipation from slavery for the African American community.
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