Marching bands, community murals, scholarship competitions and 5K runners were among the sights Saturday as Juneteenth celebrations got underway across the St. Louis area.
Residents gathered at parks, community festivals and neighborhood events to celebrate Black history, culture and community ahead of the June 19 holiday.
At Soulard Market Park, the Juneteenth Festival organized by Neighbors Impacting Communities drew residents from across the region for a day of music, food and education. Despite periods of rain, crowds filled the park to enjoy performances by the Riverview Gardens High School marching band, local artists and a DJ…