The Vicksburg Juneteenth Heritage Festival Committee will host its Juneteenth Heritage Festival on Saturday, June 18, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Halls Ferry Park.
The 2022 theme is Celebrating Freedom.
Vicksburg’s first Juneteenth Heritage Festival occurred on June 19, 1993, on Monroe Street. Six years later, on June 19, 1999, spearheaded by Mrs. Ezell Matthews McDonald, a local businesswoman who focused on African American culture, history, and traditions, the second Juneteenth Celebration was held in Marcus Bottom.
Since the 1999 Festival, for the past 22 years, Juneteenth has been celebrated in Vicksburg at various churches and locations.
On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law, commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Juneteenth came about as the Civil War came to a close in 1865. Thousands of slaves were not made aware of freedom until June 19, 1865.
Their celebration would serve as the basis of June 19 — or Juneteenth — a holiday celebrating emancipation in the United States.
Some of Vicksburg’s gifted live entertainment will perform. Numerous vendors will be on hand to sell their arts, crafts and a variety of foods. Admission to this event is free.
