Now that Juneteenth is a New York State holiday, celebrations of the historic African American holiday are being planned all over Westchester. New Rochelle is no exception. Juneteenth – Passion and Perseverance, a community celebration, takes place on Saturday, June 19th at multiple venues around the City. Organized by The Lincoln Park Conservancy, Inc. with support from the City of New Rochelle’s IDA/CLD, and Westchester County, the celebration begins at 9am and ends at 9pm.
The family-friendly, full day of events includes the following: Bokandeye African American Dance Company, soloist Kay Boyd, an art exhibit – Juneteenth – A Narrative of Freedom – at the NRCA Rotunda Gallery at City Hall, history presentations by New Rochelle Historian Barbara Davis and City Councilmember Yadira Ramos-Herbert, jazz performances by New Rochelle’s own Rocky Middleton Ensemble, soloist Lucia Jackson and percussionist Ron Jackson and the Wayne Henderson Sextet, dancers Sarita Apel, Andres Bravo and Steven Vilsaint, Capoeira Luanda - New Rochelle, a quilt making workshop by artist Richela Fabian Morgan, spoken word by NRHS students Solomon Darden and Darrin Greaves and ALMS student DJ Smithyboy at the turntables.
The daylong Culturefest takes place at Ward Acres Community Garden, New Rochelle City Hall, the Thomas Paine Cottage, and the Paine Memorial Building. Community members representing the New Rochelle NAACP, the Interreligious Council of New Rochelle, Ward Acres Community Garden, the Huguenot & New Rochelle Historical Association, the New Rochelle Council on the Arts, Westchester Alliance of Black School Educators, WestCOP, as well as a member of New Rochelle City Council and Board Members of The Lincoln Park Conservancy came together to plan the historic event which commemorates the end of slavery in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865.
For information and the full schedule of events for New Rochelle’s Juneteenth Celebration, visit www.facebook.com/thelincolnparkconservancy or email ltrgroup1@aol.com
CDC guidelines for social distancing and masking of unvaccinated individuals will be followed. PPE will be available at all sites.
The Lincoln Park Conservancy, Inc., a 501c3 community organization in New Rochelle, NY, has as its mission to preserve, document, educate and promote the rich history of the Lincoln Avenue Corridor and its connection, both historically and present-day, to the larger community of the City of New Rochelle and beyond.
