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Juneteenth celebration:
Friday June 18th, 2021 6-9pm
Saturday June 19th, 2021 10am-8pm
Sunday June 20th, 2021 11am-3pm

The Black Union of Kent County and the Town of Chestertown Host Annual Juneteenth Celebration, June 14-19, 2021

On June 19, 1865, a group of formerly enslaved people celebrated the announcement of the end of slavery in Galveston, Texas. Over time, this celebration has spread across the United States, and last year the Black Union of Kent County hosted Chestertown’s first ever Juneteenth celebration. This year, the Juneteenth celebration is bigger and better, offering a series of events from June 14 to June 19, 2021, to celebrate history, culture, and achievements.

The Juneteenth festivities begin with four online trainings on Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI).  The JEDI trainings, led by members of the Washington College community, are free and open to the public.

On Friday, June 18, it’s time to celebrate with a Block Party from 6 to 9 pm in Fountain Park. Activities will include live music from the Dell Foxx Band and food by Phat Daddy BBQ. The evening also features presentations by the Race Thing, a media company that focuses on race relations in Talbot County, and Minorities in Aquaculture, an organization committed to creating a more diverse aquaculture industry by educating minority women.

The Chesapeake Heartland Archive will have its African American Humanities Truck—a mobile digitization station, oral history studio, and exhibit space—available on Friday night and all day Saturday. Bring your materials, pictures, and memories to join the archive of the history of African American communities on the Shore.

Saturday’s activities kick off at 1 pm in Wilmer Park with DJ Zandon. From 1:00-2:30 pm, at River Arts on High Street, the Dolcin Unisex Lounge will present on Black barbers and hairstyles. At 3pm at the Chestertown Marina, organizer John Queen will unveil historic signage recognizing the contributions of the enslaved people who arrived on Chestertown’s shores.

Families can check out the activities just for kids from 12:00-4:00 at KidSpot and from 1:00-2:30 at the Kent County Public Library.

On Saturday afternoon at Wilmer Park, the Festival welcomes two keynote speakers. At 4:45 pm, Savannah Shepherd, social justice activist and founder of the Delaware Social Justice Remembrance Coalition (DSJRC), will address the crowd. At 5:35, State Delegate Andrea Harrison will speak. Harrison introduced a bill this past legislative session designating June 19 for Juneteenth National Freedom Day as a State legal and employee holiday. The afternoon’s events will also include the naming of the first recipients of the John Queen Community Impact Award and the Juneteenth Community Advocate Award.

Saturday evening is the grand finale and closing celebration. The evening begins at 6 pm with the blues, jazz, and folk of singer Karen Sommerville and the 3DC Band, and ends at 8 pm, with a closing candlelight ceremony celebrating history, culture, and achievements.

Full schedule:

JEDI Trainings (JUSTICE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION): 6:30 pm start times

Monday June 14^th – (Micro) Aggressions (90mins)

Tuesday June 15^th– Identity and Privilege (90mins)

Wednesday June 16^th– (Micro) Anti-Racism (120mins)

Thursday June 17^th– Courageous Conversations (90mins)

For more information on JEDI Trainings or to register click here.

Block Party Friday June 18 Fountain Park 6-9pm

6:00pm- 6:45pm: Dell Foxx (Live Entertainment) Fountain Park

6:45pm- 7:45pm: Black Union of Kent County Information

6:50- 7:00pm: (5) Major Issues (Genocide-Mass Incarceration-Miseducation-Gentrification-Access to Wealth) with Levels of Empowerment (Community-Economics-Judicial-Media-Education)

7:00pm-7:15pm: The Race Thing presentation

7:15pm-7:30pm: Minorities in Aquaculture

7:45pm-8:45pm: Dell Foxx (Live Entertainment) Fountain Park

8:45pm-9:00pm: Block Party Closing Remarks

Ceremony Saturday June 19, 2021 (12:00pm-8:00 pm)

1:00 pm: Town Festival Grand Opening (Wilmer Park) Interim Mayor David Foster

1:00pm -2:30pm: Black Barbers Presentation w/Dolcin Unisex Lounge (RiverArts)

1:00 pm-2:30 pm: Kent County Public Library (Arts, Crafts Making crowns: King’s and Queen’s)

3:00pm-3:45pm: Historic Signage Reveal (Chestertown Marina)

4:00pm-4:45pm: Live Band (Wilmer Park)

4:45 pm-5:15 pm: Guest Speaker Savannah Shepard

5:15 pm-5:35 pm: John Queen Community Impact Award and the Juneteenth Community Advocate Award

5:35 pm-5:50 pm: Guest Speaker Delegate Andrea Harrison

6:00 pm-6:45 pm Karen Somerville (Live Entertainment) Wilmer Park

7:15 pm-8:00 pm: Karen Somerville (Live Entertainment) Wilmer Park

8:00pm: Closing Ceremony w/Candle Light Recognition

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!!!

BlackUnion of Kent County are currently seeking volunteers for the 2021 “Juneteenth” festival in Chestertown, MD for Saturday June 19th, 2021.

Email blackunionkc@gmail.com and provide the following information: first and last name, age, contact number