Fayette Mayor Jeremy Dawson signed a proclamation last week signifying the annual Juneteenth celebration in Fayette. The proclamation, signed during the May 10 regular meeting of the Fayette Board of Aldermen, commemorates the long-running celebration in Fayette, which will take place from June 16 through June 19.

This year marks the 22nd consecutive Juneteenth held in Fayette, making it one of the longest-running celebrations in the state. The four-day event will also be a return to form after two years of limitations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Juneteenth marks the day when Union troops, led by Major General Gordan Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas on June 29, 1865, to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed, which came a full two-and-a-half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln. Juneteenth is the oldest nationally recognized holiday celebrating the freedom of African Americans.

“Community Celebration,” is this year’s theme. “There is sort of a trend we are trying to underscore,” Tim Jackman, one of the event’s coordinators, explained to the city council. “That trend is around inclusiveness in this community. We celebrate Juneteenth to celebrate the triumph over slavery of black Americans in this country. But we also want to celebrate inclusivity. We want Fayette to move forward and be an even better place.”

One of the events planned for this year’s Juneteenth is one for those with special needs. “I probably don’t need to tell you how excited those folks are to be a part of Juneteenth,” Jackman said.

“We have one of the longest celebrations here in Fayette. That’s something we all should take pride in, because not all cities, particularly large cities, even celebrate Juneteenth. Not to mention a four-day celebration.”

Schedules and further information for Fayette’s Juneteenth event will be included in upcoming editions of this newspaper.