Manhattan Beach honored the anniversary of the end of African American chattel enslavement on Sunday afternoon, June 21, with its third annual Juneteenth Celebration and Concert at Polliwog Park.
The free event was a local celebration of the anniversary of June 19, 1865 — the day the last enslaved African American people in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom.
The community festival featured live music, food vendors, a vendor village and more.
Tanya Taylor meet with friends and family after the inaugural Juneteenth ceremony at Bruce’s Beach Park on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Tanya Taylor meet with friends and family after the inaugural Juneteenth ceremony at Bruce’s Beach Park on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Manhattan Beach city officials join residents and racial justice activists for the inaugural Juneteenth ceremony at Bruce’s Beach Park on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Manhattan Beach Mayor Joe Franklin speaks during the inaugural Juneteenth ceremony at Bruce’s Beach Park on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Manhattan Beach city officials join residents and racial justice activists for the inaugural Juneteenth ceremony at Bruce’s Beach Park on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Janet Allen speaks during the inaugural Juneteenth ceremony at Bruce’s Beach Park on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Manhattan Beach city officials join residents and racial justice activists for the inaugural Juneteenth ceremony at Bruce’s Beach Park on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Manhattan Beach city officials join residents and racial justice activists for the inaugural Juneteenth ceremony at Bruce’s Beach Park on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
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Tanya Taylor meet with friends and family after the inaugural Juneteenth ceremony at Bruce’s Beach Park on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Attendees ate picnic lunches on blankets and lawn chairs on the grass while watching performances by Los Angeles band WST CMPLX, among others.
Dilan’s Caribbean Grill, Nay’s Tacos, Creamy Boys and other eateries provided the fare for sale at the event.
Manhattan Beach hosted its inaugural city sponsored Juneteenth event in 2024 and also had a separate ceremony honoring the holiday, known as African American Independence Day, at Bruce’s Beach Park. Bruce’s Beach Park and the shore below it is a local Black historic landmark, the site of a formerly African American-owned and -serving coastal resort in the White-dominated beach town.
Donations allowed the city to host Juneteenth celebrations through at least this year.
Before 2024, community organizations Justice for Bruce’s Beach and Culture Club South Bay hosted respective Juneteenth celebrations at Bruce’s Beach Park before the City Council adopted a policy limiting large events there and at other small parks.