Annual Milford Juneteenth Celebration Set For June 18 On Milford Green

Press release from the Milford Juneteenth Celebration Committee:

June 15, 2022

The Milford Juneteenth Celebration Committee is hosting Milford’s third annual Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 18, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the Milford Green to commemorate and celebrate this historic event and honor the achievements of Black Americans. The event will provide an educational and entertaining experience for all attendees and participants, featuring music, food, and vendors. Admission to the celebration is free.

Featured on the Green’s bandstand throughout the day will be musical performances, poetry readings, an African praise dance ensemble, and a drill team performance. Located on the Green will be booths promoting the work of local Black-owned businesses, artists, and craftpersons, as well as other local vendors. Non-profit organizations from the greater Milford area will be in attendance, as well as booths dedicated to health and wellness. An authors’ tent will host readings and books for all ages. There will also be games and activities for children to enjoy.

“For me, Juneteenth represents a day of reflection, unity and hope” said Planning Committee member Carl S. Moore. “I am proud to be a part of Milford, “A Small City with a Big Heart” that is a city rich in history and resources where we can learn the importance of our ancestors fight for freedom and the sacrifices they have made. I would like to thank the city of Milford and its community for giving us a platform to celebrate this important holiday.”

Juneteenth, the oldest nationally-celebrated holiday marking the ending of slavery in the United States, traces its roots to June 19, 1865 when Major Gen. Gordon Granger of the Union Army landed in Galveston, Texas and informed the enslaved populace they had been freed under President Abraham Lincoln's’ Emancipation Proclamation – 2 ½ years after the document was signed. On May 27, 2022, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed into law Public Act 22-128, which establishes a new legal state holiday on June 19 of each year to be known as Juneteenth Independence Day.

Event Details:
What: Milford Juneteenth Celebration
When: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturday, June 18, 2022
Where: Milford City Green (Broad Street)
Milford Juneteenth Committee Contact: juneteenthmilford@gmail.com
Facebook: Milford Juneteenth Celebration
PHOTO CAPTION: Milford Juneteenth Planning Committee member Carl S. Moore and his son Isaiah with Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro at the 2021 Milford Juneteenth Celebration.

This press release was produced by the Milford Juneteenth Celebration Committee. The views expressed here are the author's own.