Broadview Juneteenth Bash: 1,000 People Expected at Weekend Festival

(Broadview, IL) – The Village of Broadview is expecting up to 1,000 people for its annual Juneteenth celebration that includes three days of celebratory events at Schroeder Park, starting on Friday, June 16 at 6:00 p.m.

As a recognition of the June 19, 1865 acknowledgement by the State of Texas of slavery’s end, Broadview, on July 6, 2020, became the first Illinois municipality to establish an official government Juneteenth holiday, providing a paid day-off to the village’s municipal employees, setting the stage the village’s third Juneteenth weekend-long celebration.

“Texas was the last Confederate state to bow to the reality of slavery’s end by virtue of President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, and Broadview is the first town in Illinois to legally stand up an official, paid holiday for village employees to recognize the end of slavery,” said Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson. “We think that, like the 4th of July, that Juneteenth too needs to be officially recognized because on June 19, 1865, for all Americans, freedom became a reality.”

Broadview’s Juneteenth weekend celebrations, which are expected to draw as many as 1,000 people, according to the mayor, begin on Friday, June 16, with the raising of the Juneteenth flag and live entertainment at Schroeder Park, located 2600 S. 13th Avenue in Broadview, from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

The celebration continues on Saturday with Broadview’s showcase event, a day-long festival at Schroeder Park from 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., which includes live entertainment and food vendors. On Sunday, the festival runs from noon until 9:00 p.m., ending with fireworks.

“We may have as many as a 1,000 people from Broadview and surrounding communities to show up to enjoy the weekend-long festival activities and to celebrate African-American freedom,” said Thompson. “Everyone is welcome.”

Monday, June 19, is an official holiday for Broadview municipal employees.

davidormsby@davidormsby.com