Sedalia Celebrates Juneteenth at Hubbard Park

Although Juneteenth is observed federally today, Sedalia celebrated Juneteenth last Saturday at Hubbard Park.

We spoke with Alona Reid, president of the Pettis County chapter of the NAACP, who explained the reason for the celebration.

“Juneteenth is the day that the slaves were actually freed, the last ones in Texas, after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. So they were freed on June the 19th, which is referred to as Juneteenth, and here in Sedalia we try to celebrate it as close to the 19th as we possibly can,” Reid said.

She noted that in lieu of a band this year, the event featured a DJ, a cakewalk, doughnut and watermelon eating contests, face painting and three-on-three basketball.

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Reid said that she wants to see people come and have a good time.

Juneeth is about awareness, but it is not for for black people, Reid stressed. “It is for the entire community to come together, because we're all one. And we just want people to understand what Juneteenth is, and come and celebrate with us, just like they would for the Fourth of July,” she told KSIS.

City officials, county officials, State Fair Community College, the Sedalia Police Department and the Sedalia Fire Department all helped celebrate Juneteenth on a sunny and warm Saturday afternoon.

There was also a bounce house available for kids to use during the event.

In the top photo: Alona Reid, president of the Pettis County chapter of the NAACP, speaks with Sedalia Firefighters who attended the Juneteenth celebration held last Saturday at Hubbard Park.