2009 Twin Cities Juneteenth Celebration - Sunday, June 14, 2009 on Boom Island

April 22, 2009 - PRLog -- The festival marks this anniversary with a new location (and renewed spirit) on the banks of the Mississippi River at Boom Island, Sunday, June 14, 2009 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

In selecting Boom Island as the site of the 2009 festival chairperson Mary Pargo notes that “for escaped slaves following the Underground Railroad, following the Mississippi River northward meant a journey towards freedom and a new life”.  She continued, “Holding the festival on the banks of this storied river offers festival goers a dynamic reminder of the richness of the struggle, journey, and arrival of African American people in northern cities like Minneapolis-St. Paul.  This River is history’s ribbon.”  With the new location Pargo promises a renewed spirit of celebration of festival’s core mission - providing a family friendly event where youth, children, and adults learn about their shared legacy.

This year’s festival includes annual favorites including the NdCAD Reading Pavilion, African American History Village, Wilderness Inquiry Canoe Rides on the Mississippi River, the Underground Railroad Re-Enactment, Kumbayah-The Juneteenth Play, Obsidian Arts Village, and the Ernestine King Tennis Tournament , UCare Health and Wellness Marketplace.

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Essentially a historic event, Juneteenth’s roots are traced back to June of 1865 when, two and a half years after the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation, Union Troops arrived in Galveston, Texas announcing and enforcing the proclamation’s provisions. From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond.

The Twin Cities Juneteenth Celebration is a free, family oriented event.  Boom Island provides a leisurely atmosphere for the entire family in its 25-acre area.

Recreational amenities include a boat launch, docks, promenades, a tot lot, and shelters.  Boom Island is located on the east bank of the Mississippi River, just north east of downtown Minneapolis, at 724 Sibley Street NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413.

The Twin Cities Juneteenth Celebration is currently seeking marketplace vendors and community volunteers as well as performers, tennis players, re-enactment participants.

Please see www.juneteenthminnesota.org or call 612-238-3733 for registration forms and more information.

**Community Auditions (for the Juneteenth Festival Stage)**

Gospel, Jazz, Dance, Spoken Word artist and groups are invited to audition to perform on the Juneteenth stage. Registration forms at

Audition Fees: Individuals - $20.00 / Groups - $40.00
Audition Dates/Time:   Sat., April 25, 11 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 26, 2009 12-noon – 4:00 p.m. - Audition Location: Oak Park Center, 1707 Oak Park Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55411

# # #

V-Newswire is an online press release service based in Minneapolis, MN. V-Newswire is a proud supporter of PRLog.org.