LEWISBURG, Pa. — From drum performances celebrating the African American experience and its ancestry to original poetry performed live, more than a hundred people gathered at Hufnagle Park in downtown Lewisburg for the borough's first-ever Juneteenth celebration.
"Being able to go 20 minutes from my house to this massive community of people who are all celebrating the same thing is a big deal," said Monica Prince, Selinsgrove.
"I come from California originally, and my family was from Texas and, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, so we always celebrated Juneteenth. So they have it here in Pennsylvania, where I've lived down for 25 years. It's really amazing," said Cymone Fourshey, Lewisburg.
With a theme of "Celebrating Our Ancestors, Elevating Our Youth and Liberating Our Minds," Lewisburg Mayor Kendy Alvarez says the event marks an important day for black Americans and all of those who call the Central Pennsylvania community home.
"For the majority population in our area, it is a reflection that diversity does exist in the space that you may not see them every day, you may not interact with them, but there are people here who decided to make this place their own," said Mayor Kendy Alvarez, Lewisburg.
Only recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, Alvarez hopes the borough's first-ever celebration educates those on the history of Juneteenth and the role it plays in their community every day, "So this inaugural Juneteenth event really highlights that as a way to commemorate Juneteenth, but to also as a reflection of the diversity that exists within our community, and the need for us to be able to have people see themselves and see each other."
Following the inaugural Juneteenth celebration in Lewisburg, organizers hope to continue the event and to work with other communities in the future.