The City of Ames Parks and Recreation Department, Ames Police Department, Ames Public Library, and Ames Human Relations Commission, together with numerous other community organizations and businesses, are participating in a Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 18, in Bandshell Park, Sixth Street and Duff Avenue. This summer celebration of African-American culture begins at 3 p.m. and will include family activities, arts and crafts activities, games, live entertainment, food vendors, and more. A line dance party will be from 6 to 8 p.m. and a Black superhero movie will be shown at 8 p.m.

Juneteenth is the oldest national commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States and is observed by celebrating African-American culture. On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, and publicly read the Emancipation Proclamation, marking the final Confederate state in which the Emancipation Proclamation was announced and enforced.

In the event of inclement weather, the celebration will take place at Harvest Vineyard Church, 320 S. 17th St. For more information, follow @AmesIowaBranchoftheNAACP on Facebook or @amesiowanaacp on Instagram.