EASTON, Pa. – A parade through the streets of Easton brought this year’s weeklong Juneteenth celebration to a close Saturday, drawing community members, local organizations and marching bands to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.
The event marked the culmination of a series of activities organized by Juneteenth Lehigh Valley to honor June 19, 1865, the date when enslaved people in Texas learned they were free more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.
“Today has been a wonderful parade that brings agencies from Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton together,” said Karen Britt, president of Juneteenth Lehigh Valley.
Throughout the week, the organization hosted a variety of events, including a flag-raising ceremony, children’s festivals and a partnership with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs for a celebration Friday at Coca-Cola Park.
Britt said Juneteenth serves as a reminder of the nation’s shared history and the continued importance of unity.
“That should be a day of celebration because again, we are woven into the same fabric in the same nation and we’re able to celebrate. So, we always say freedom for all,” Britt said.
Saturday’s parade featured speeches, marching bands and local community groups. Spectators lined the streets to support what organizers described as a celebration of freedom and community.
“More and more people come out each year and it’s just a wonderful time,” Britt said.
The parade served as the final event of this year’s Juneteenth Lehigh Valley celebration.