People of all ages and races lined the streets in Austin’s African American Cultural Heritage District ahead of the Juneteenth parade Friday morning.
The June 19 celebrations mark the day Union soldiers reached Galveston and announced that enslaved people were freed more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, but Texas, and Austin specifically, have been celebrating it for more than a century.
Austin residents lined the streets of the parade route Friday morning.
Howard Barron, 60, brought his grandchildren, who are 7 and 4, to this year’s celebration.
Barron said he has attended Juneteenth parades for 45 years and remembers taking his daughter to the Austin Juneteenth parade for the first time in 1999.
“I had a float, a motorcycle on a trailer. They decorated, [and] we threw out candy,” Barron said, referencing the 1999 event.
This year’s parade featured music from high school bands, dance groups, local churches and businesses, city officials, and Buffalo Soldier reenactors who honored the all-Black unit in the U.S. Army that was created in 1866 after the Civil War ended.
There was also, of course, the throwing of candy.
Josiah, Barron’s 7-year-old grandchild, was originally frustrated after waiting 30 minutes for the parade to start. When KUT checked back later, Josiah said he was having a good time. When asked what his favorite part was, he replied, “candy,” as he ate a popsicle.
Austin City Council Member José “Chito” Vela passed out candy during the parade.
Paige Singleton, 39, said she’s been going to Juneteenth parades for about 34 years.
“ It’s great to see in Austin, especially when the diversity is not pretty big and prevalent,” Singleton said. “Black people represent 8% of the community of Austin, so to see everyone out here amongst other people and all getting along, having a good time, it’s just a great time to come out and enjoy.”
LaToya Marshall, 48, celebrated the event with her family and said she was happy the city of Austin continues to be supportive of the parade, with different departments and officials participating.
“My favorite part of the parade is seeing the unity,” Marshall said. “And seeing all the people, all the diversity, enjoying, celebrating, seeing the kids go out, grab candy, seeing the young people participate as well.”