Juneteenth celebrated by community coming together through food and music

‘It’s all of our history, not just Black history.’

Librarian Lacey Alexis reads “So Many Years, a Juneteenth Story” by Anne Wynter at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Independent)

By Jasz Garrett

Juneau Independent

“How would you sing, how would you dance?” was a question posed in the children’s book “So Many Years, a Juneteenth Story” by Anne Wynter at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Tuesday. 

The answer for about 30 children attending a storytime by librarian Lacey Alexis was “with rainbow silk scarves.” Alexis taught family-friendly classic Black line dance songs after reading “So Many Years, a Juneteenth Story” and other books. She said the colorful scarves were more age-appropriate than fans commonly used in line dances in the South. 

“Some of my family was enslaved in Louisiana so this holiday means so much to me and is a big celebration,” she told the kids gathered around her with a smile. 

Alex Orvin said the Juneteenth story time offered an “easy, digestible way” for both her and her daughter to learn the history behind the holiday. 

“We learned a new dance!” beamed Lilly Orvin, 7.  

Lilly Orvin, 7 and Lily Miller, 8, dance at the Juneteenth storytime and dance party at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Independent)

Juneteenth marks the end of slavery in the United States. The name, first used in the 1890s, refers to June 19, 1865, the day when Major Gen. Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the American Civil War. 

His announcement, given on the balcony of Ashton Villa in Galveston, Texas, came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, which declared that enslaved people in Confederate states would be free if the Union won the war. But it took a long time for the news of the Confederate surrender to reach Texas. 

Although it was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, early Juneteenth celebrations date back to 1866. Last year, the state of Alaska and the City and Borough of Juneau recognized it as a holiday for the first time. The library party dates back to 2023.

Alexis said “So Many Years, A Juneteenth Story” is a brand new book available to check out.

“I think it really ties into the meaning of Juneteenth really well, and so much about Juneteenth holidays and celebrations are about really good food and dancing and eating, and that’s why I wanted to dance here,” she said.  

Zev Mendez, 2, smiles during a Juneteenth dance party at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Independent)

Juneau’s Black Awareness Association will have its own celebration to commemorate the anniversary of the 1865 Freedom Day on June 27 with a community cookout downtown.

Originally planned for this Saturday, the cookout was postponed due to unexpected maintenance at the Buoy Deck (345 Egan Drive). The new time is from 12:30 to 4 p.m at the same location. 

“Previously in years past, we’ve done other events to celebrate Juneteenth and I believe that this is the first time we’ve done a cookout in, I would say, 10 years,” said Sherry Patterson, president of BAA. “This is what we do. We love to cook, we love to gather, we love to eat together. We just love being together. And with a holiday as this one, it’s just good to celebrate our independence and freedom finally.”

The event includes planned speeches and classic cookout games like spades, dominoes and Uno. 

“We’re just going to have fun. We’re going to open it up for karaoke and dancing and lots of good music,” said Al Wilson, an organizer for the event. 

A brief documentary screening will educate attendees on the importance of Juneteenth and why it’s celebrated. While Juneteenth started as a Texas celebration, it quickly spread to other states. 

“We had no way of really knowing, so it was business as usual. For everyone who couldn’t read, they got up and they went back to the plantation,” Wilson said. “So we celebrate as well because it’s our history and America’s history.” 

“It’s all of our history, not just Black history,” he added.

Patterson said the 1865 Freedom Day is American history that the majority of Americans do not know. 

“If we can make a difference and educate not only our Black community here in the capital city of the state of Alaska, but our whole community and allow it to spread throughout the rest of our state and beyond, we’ve done a good feat,” she said. “That’s what our group is about is keeping our culture in front of our community and keeping it alive.”

Meals for the June 27 cookout can be pre-ordered here. There is a choice of BBQ chicken, ribs, hot dogs, hamburgers, or veggie burgers, accompanied by sides and sweet tea or lemonade. Walk-ins are also available. 

Donations and the purchase of meals support BAA and its Black Excellence Scholarship, which the nonprofit is developing into a life-advancement grant to provide youth and adults with access to higher education, vocational training and artistic development. 

• Contact Jasz Garrett at jasz@juneauindependent.com or (907) 723-9356.