BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Juneteenth Festival has taken place for the past 44 years in Western New York and although the COVID-19 pandemic has canceled and postponed many events, the organizers of the Juneteenth of Buffalo Festival 2020 say the event will take place online this year.
"Most of Western New York’s annual summer events have been cancelled, or postponed, but not Buffalo’s Juneteenth Festival. This team of volunteers has worked collectively, to gather content; collaborated with the Watertown Juneteenth Festival; evaluated countless hours of content submissions; and looks forward to executing an unprecedented virtual Festival that will operate across various social media platforms and be appreciated, worldwide," a release states.
Organizers say beginning June 11 at 5 p.m. and then June 13 and 14, "get your favorite dish, gather your family (and all their devices), and go online to your favorite festival, where there’s something for everyone! Peace and Love!"
Below you can find a schedule of events:
- PRAYER, PRAISE, AND WORSHIP --- Prayer Warriors; Praise Service; a Worship Experience --- 10:30 a.m.
- PARADE --- Artists, Organizations, and Community --- 11:00 a.m.
- HISTORY - “Free and Clear: the Evolution of Juneteenth”, 1976 – 2020; Underground Railroad; Maafa Memorial (June 21, 2020) --- 11:30 p.m.
- ELDERS’ GRIOT VILLAGE --- “If Not for You, Where Would We Be?” – Posthumous salutes to this Year’s Grand Marshals --- 12:00 p.m.
- HEALTH --- Buffalo Board of Ed.’s Office of Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching (CLRI) “Pandemic Town Hall”; Chef Michelle foster --- 12:30 p.m.
- EDUTAINMENT --- DJ Ras Muata; Timeis Athand; Danielle Byrd; Peachez Williams; Swayne “Radio” Martin; Vonetta T. Rhodes; Celeste Lawson; LaDi NaFi Selah; Jimmie Byrd; Lyntressa Atkinson; Marz O Ngee; Kenyada Davis; Fyah Star; Goodne$$ --- 1:00 p.m.
- ARTS & CULTURE STAGE --- African American Cultural Center; Vocal Artists: Airan Taylor; Dawna Durham; Dejuaine “D Mott” Motley; Delainey Daniels; NiYah Peace; Eric Jones; Fragrance of Yah; Henri Star; Ignite Reggae Band; Robert Anderson; Warrior King; YouKonDe; Poets and Spoken Word Artists: Jillian Hanesworth; Millie Rae; Trueletta Williams; Devotion T. Satchell; Taharka Odinga --- 1:30 p.m.
- SOCIAL JUSTICE --- Prof. Gloria Brown-Marshall; Dr. Arikoma Chihombori Quao; Dr. Fatima Morrell
- SPORTS & RECREATION --- G.I.R.L.S. Sports Foundation --- 2:00 p.m.
- BOOK SHARING/CHILDREN’S --- Chess, Children’s Storytelling, At-Home Activities --- 2:30 p.m.
- BUFFALO BOARD OF EDUCATION ARTS PROJECT --- African Heritage Chalk Walk, Craftmaking --- 3:00 p.m.
- YOUTH --- Yoga, History Lesson --- 3:30 p.m.
- ENTERTAINMENT --- Adam Hawley; The Unity Band; Trigger & the Sermon; The Old School B Boys --- 4:00 p.m.
