Here’s your guide to SC Lowcountry Juneteenth celebrations this weekend
Juneteenth is this Friday, America’s newest national holiday.
It began in Texas, when on June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas were informed of their emancipation following the end of the Civil War, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The holiday began informally among formerly enslaved people in Texas, but eventually spread throughout the South. It achieved federal recognition in 2021 when President Joe Biden made it a national holiday.
Juneteenth celebrations are held across the Lowcountry, and here are some you can attend:
Beaufort Juneteenth Parade
Local Gullah community group Project Freedom 326 will host its third annual Juneteenth Unity Parade this Friday. The parade will last from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Bay Street in Beaufort.
Alongside the parade will be the sixth annual Freedom Day Celebration, with food and live performances.
St. Helena Island Celebration
A Juneteenth celebration will be held at the Penn Center on St. Helena Island Friday. The celebration is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and admission is free.
The Penn Center was built as a school for formerly enslaved people, and was one of the first. The celebration will have live music and free food for attendees.
Bluffton Juneteenth Festival
Bluffton will hold a Juneteenth Festival over the weekend in several locations, hosted by the Bluffton MLK Observance Committee. It starts with Black Food Truck Friday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at New Riverside Barn Park.
It continues Saturday with a Juneteenth Festival at Gullah restaurant Ma Daisy’s Porch in Bluffton from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The festival will have a drum circle, African dancing, vendors, food trucks and a kids area. Ma Daisy’s Porch is at 1255 May River Road.
The last event is a Jazz Brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ma Daisy’s Porch. This event costs $50 to attend.
Hilton Head Juneteenth 5k
A 5k run or walk will be held at Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park on Hilton Head Island to celebrate Juneteenth. The 5k begins at 9 a.m. but participants should arrive between 8 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. to pick up their packet and stretch, according to the event’s website.
Registration is free for participants under 12. It’s $20 for those under 18 and $35 for adults. Participants receive a commemorative T-shirt and a medal after completing the 5k.