BETHLEHEM, PA — Yesterday kicked off the eighth day of the Juneteenth celebrations across the Lehigh Valley, bringing the community together at Bethlehem Steelstacks for a day of food and fun for all ages. The festivities were scheduled from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Over 40+ black-owned businesses, from storytellers to food trucks, were available for patrons to learn about black history or grab a bite. Hip-hop, R&B, Soul, Jazz, and Reggae music could be heard throughout the grounds as visitors took in the day.
This is the fourth consecutive year that the event has taken place. JuneteenthLV, the managing organization, was founded in 2020 by Dr. Karen S. Britt and other local representatives in anticipation of Juneteenth being deemed an official federal holiday in the USA.
The holiday commemorates the day that over 250,000+ enslaved people of color were declared free on June 19th, 1865, by the U.S. Army shortly after the end of the Civil War.
Dr. Britt, currently president of the organization, is a professor of business and economics with over 17+ years of experience instructing at NCC and has been the visionary of this critical event in our area.
With her efforts, the event has grown year over year, welcoming over 3,200 patrons in its inaugural year and an estimated 5,000 patrons in 2022. Stats for 2023 weren’t immediately available.
However, it was evident that the crowd at this year’s gathering was stronger than ever, and attendance is expected to grow as more people of color are educated about the importance of these celebrations.
While food, drink, and music are great ways to celebrate and remember, the educational offerings couldn’t be ignored. From educators to children’s theatre, there were numerous opportunities around the venue to learn about important historical events in black history.
If you missed the events this year, you can look forward to a 5th year of celebration in 2025 as the Lehigh Valley flourishes as a hub for community and gathering.
