City of Winter Haven Kicks off 4th Annual Juneteenth Celebration with Official Proclamation
by James Coulter
To officially kick off its 4th annual Juneteenth celebration this weekend, The City of Winter Haven announced that June 19th will be recognized as Juneteenth Day through an official proclamation.
At their regular meeting on Monday evening, Winter Haven City Commissioners recognized a proclamation designating Wed. June 19 as Juneteenth Day. The proclamation was read by Mayor Nathanial Birdsong and presented by Natalie Wilson, Special Event Coordinator.
“Observing Juneteenth as a day of reflection and celebration, honors the resilience and perseverance of the African American community and reaffirms our commitment to building a more just and inclusive community for future generations,” the proclamation wrote.
Winter Haven’s 4th Annual Juneteenth Celebration starts on Fri. June 14 with a movie night at the Winter Haven Garden Center. The movie will start at 6:30 PM.
The main event will be hosted the next day on Sat. June 15, with the Celebration Festival, hosted at Lake Maude Recreation Center from 11 AM to 4 PM. All events are free and open to the public.
“The 2024 Juneteenth Celebration Committee has been charged with and worked alongside City staff to bring appreciation, and recognition of African-American history by creating an atmosphere of unity through a modern-day celebration of heritage that educates, engages the broader community, and inspires future change makers.”
To learn more about the upcoming Juneteenth event, visit the City of Winter Haven’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/winterhavenflorida
