\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPittsburgh\u2019s annual celebration of Juneteenth is back downtown this weekend. It\u2019s a dayslong recognition of the freedom of slaves, and also a big boost for Black-owned businesses in and around the city.\u201cJuneteenth is not a Black holiday; it\u2019s an American holiday,\u201d said William Marshall, producer of the Western Pennsylvania Juneteenth Celebration. \u201cWith the way this country\u2019s going right now, we want to make sure that we celebrate African American culture, history, and identity.\u201dAfter Mellon Park hosted the festivities last year, Juneteenth is back downtown at Market Square, Liberty Avenue and Point State Park.\u201cWe\u2019re excited to be back downtown,\u201d Marshall said. \u201cLast year, we had to go to Mellon Park because of the renovations that were going on here. Having this downtown, it\u2019s a lot easier for people to come into the city, get a hotel room in the city, and walk around for the activities.\u201dFor decades, the city\u2019s celebration of emancipation has attracted thousands of locals and visitors.\u201cWe are now the biggest (Juneteenth) celebration in Pennsylvania, and maybe one of the biggest in the country,\u201d Marshall said. \u201cLast year, they said we had over 75,000 people for the Juneteenth celebration.\u201dWith more than a hundred vendors and music acts taking over the city, attendees love the variety the weekend brings.\u201cI love the bands. I came down here to see live music,\u201d said Jodie Thompson, of Mount Washington. \u201cWe didn\u2019t have all of this in the past. Now, you have the new setup and the stage. This means a lot. I\u2019m proud to be down here at this moment to celebrate it.\u201d\u201cIt\u2019s very encouraging, especially for the young crowd,\u201d said Frederick Phillips, of Carrick. \u201cThey need to see the culture. The young kids need to see something positive. With what\u2019s going on these days, they need to see that you can do beautiful things.\u201dThe presence of those in attendance helps many Black-owned businesses that are set up downtown. \u201cA lot of our businesses don\u2019t have brick and mortar,\u201d Marshall said. \u201cThey rely on vending and selling their products that way. It\u2019s crucial that people come down and help with their local businesses. Especially with the state of the economy that we\u2019re in.\u201dDennis Hawkins Jr. has seen his small business, Best Fish Flavors, and others grow with the festival. \u201cMy business has grown over the years,\u201d Hawkins said. \u201cI purchased a food truck, so next year, we\u2019ll be here in the food truck. You see people start small, and then they come back and sell more things. I think it’s great for everyone.\u201dKayla Portis is the mayor of Sharpsburg. However, she loves setting up shop for this weekend on Liberty Avenue.\u201cIt\u2019s really nice to meet different people,\u201d she said. \u201cPeople are from all walks of life and places. It\u2019s so fun and great to celebrate something so important.\u201dWhether people come for the music, wardrobes or food, it all comes together for the same purpose. \u201cEvery American should be out here celebrating Juneteenth the same way that we\u2019ll be celebrating the Fourth of July in a few weeks,\u201d Marshall said. \u201cIf you want to come down, shop with those vendors, and enjoy the celebration. Juneteenth is here, it\u2019s alive, and we\u2019re just happy and excited to be here another year.\u201dThe parade downtown starts Saturday at 11 a.m. For a full list of Juneteenth events this weekend, click here.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tPITTSBURGH \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh\u2019s annual celebration of Juneteenth is back downtown this weekend. It\u2019s a dayslong recognition of the freedom of slaves, and also a big boost for Black-owned businesses in and around the city.<\/p>\n
\u201cJuneteenth is not a Black holiday; it\u2019s an American holiday,\u201d said William Marshall, producer of the Western Pennsylvania Juneteenth Celebration. \u201cWith the way this country\u2019s going right now, we want to make sure that we celebrate African American culture, history, and identity.\u201d<\/p>\n
After Mellon Park hosted the festivities last year, Juneteenth is back downtown at Market Square, Liberty Avenue and Point State Park.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re excited to be back downtown,\u201d Marshall said. \u201cLast year, we had to go to Mellon Park because of the renovations that were going on here. Having this downtown, it\u2019s a lot easier for people to come into the city, get a hotel room in the city, and walk around for the activities.\u201d<\/p>\n
For decades, the city\u2019s celebration of emancipation has attracted thousands of locals and visitors.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are now the biggest (Juneteenth) celebration in Pennsylvania, and maybe one of the biggest in the country,\u201d Marshall said. \u201cLast year, they said we had over 75,000 people for the Juneteenth celebration.\u201d<\/p>\n
With more than a hundred vendors and music acts taking over the city, attendees love the variety the weekend brings.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love the bands. I came down here to see live music,\u201d said Jodie Thompson, of Mount Washington. \u201cWe didn\u2019t have all of this in the past. Now, you have the new setup and the stage. This means a lot. I\u2019m proud to be down here at this moment to celebrate it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very encouraging, especially for the young crowd,\u201d said Frederick Phillips, of Carrick. \u201cThey need to see the culture. The young kids need to see something positive. With what\u2019s going on these days, they need to see that you can do beautiful things.\u201d<\/p>\n
The presence of those in attendance helps many Black-owned businesses that are set up downtown. <\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of our businesses don\u2019t have brick and mortar,\u201d Marshall said. \u201cThey rely on vending and selling their products that way. It\u2019s crucial that people come down and help with their local businesses. Especially with the state of the economy that we\u2019re in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dennis Hawkins Jr. has seen his small business, Best Fish Flavors, and others grow with the festival. <\/p>\n
\u201cMy business has grown over the years,\u201d Hawkins said. \u201cI purchased a food truck, so next year, we\u2019ll be here in the food truck. You see people start small, and then they come back and sell more things. I think it’s great for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kayla Portis is the mayor of Sharpsburg. However, she loves setting up shop for this weekend on Liberty Avenue.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really nice to meet different people,\u201d she said. \u201cPeople are from all walks of life and places. It\u2019s so fun and great to celebrate something so important.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whether people come for the music, wardrobes or food, it all comes together for the same purpose. <\/p>\n
\u201cEvery American should be out here celebrating Juneteenth the same way that we\u2019ll be celebrating the Fourth of July in a few weeks,\u201d Marshall said. \u201cIf you want to come down, shop with those vendors, and enjoy the celebration. Juneteenth is here, it\u2019s alive, and we\u2019re just happy and excited to be here another year.\u201d<\/p>\n