LI's Largest Juneteenth Celebration Being Held In Hicksville June 19

HICKSVILLE, NY — Long Island's largest Juneteenth celebration is going to be held in Hicksville. Organized by Uniondale-based Black Legacy Partners, the 2nd Annual Juneteenth Cultural Festival is scheduled for June 19.

The festival, which bills itself as the largest Juneteenth celebration on Long Island, will feature food vendors, live music, African drumming, live performers and many Black-owned businesses. The organizers say it is a celebration of Black culture and history on Long Island.

The event will be held at the Hicksville LIRR station parking lot from noon to 5 p.m. It will be held rain or shine. It is being sponsored by TD Bank, Mattress Firm, National Grid, Fidelis Care, Hick's Nurseries, AT&T and Jake's 58 Casino.

Black Legacy Partners' first Juneteenth event was held in Freeport last year, and attracted about 500 guests. This year, the organization is expecting double that, or more.

Some Hicksville residents are upset that the parking lot at the LIRR station is being used for the event. They say the Town of Oyster Bay, which approved the permits to hold the event, did not notify residents that it was taking place. They are worried about noise and traffic from the event.

Spencer Casseus, the vice president of administration, partnership and events for Black Legacy Partners, said the organization chose the Hicksville parking lot because it was a safe area large enough to house the event.

"We wanted to bring Black culture to a different neighborhood," Casseus said. "Just because it's Juneteenth, doesn't mean other cultures can't attend and learn about the meaning and history of Juneteenth and how it impacts African Americans. Our Juneteenth Festival provides an educational opportunity for everyone, similar to any cultural festivals that takes place on Long Island. The Juneteenth Festival offers a different kind of experience on Long Island "

Casseus said one of the goals of the event, and his organization, is to get more acknowledgement of the Black community on Long Island, as well as the growing diversity of the region.

"Everyone is invited," he said. "Long Island has become very diverse, and we have to embrace and acknowledge all of the diversity and cultural experiences that Long Island offers."

Juneteenth is a celebration of the end of slavery in America. Celebrated on June 19, it commemorates the day in 1865 that Union Major General Gordon Granger marched into Galveston, Texas and announced the civil war was over. Galveston was the last city in the country that still had slaves, and they were freed after Granger arrived.

After being celebrated by the African-American community for more then a century, Juneteenth was made an official federal holiday in 2021.