Lakeland will continue a decades-long tradition of celebrating Juneteenth, officially celebrated on June 19. The holiday marks the day when Union troops arrived in Texas and informed enslaved people they were free, over two months after Robert E. Lee’s surrender.
While the holiday gained national recognition when Congress established Juneteenth as a federal holiday in 2021, Lakeland has been celebrating much longer.
The Juneteenth Heritage & Cultural Preservation Association, founded by Doris Moore Bailey, has organized events since 1991. The association describes this year’s events as part of its ongoing mission to preserve and promote the history and significance of Juneteenth. Its morning program will kick off the festivities at Jackson Park and a banquet will end the evening at the Coleman-Bush Building on June 20…