The Florence is set to come together for the fourth straight year in celebration of Juneteenth, the annual federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
On Friday, June 19, from noon to 5 p.m., Florence-based nonprofit Family By Family and the City of Florence will host the fourth annual Juneteenth Community Celebration at the Florence Nature Park Event Center.
“Juneteenth is about more than celebration; it is about education, remembrance, and unity,” Founder and CEO of For Family By Family Sienna Thompson said in a press release. “Our goal is to ensure the history of Florence’s African American community is preserved and shared with future generations.”
The free event is open to the public and draws participants from Northern Kentucky, Greater Cincinnati, and Southeast Indiana. Organizers say this year’s theme, “United Through Legacy: 100 Years Strong, Celebrating Freedom, Family & Future,” recognizes both Juneteenth and the 100th anniversary of Black History Month.
Some of the planned activities include live entertainment, cultural performances, youth and family activities, community resource booths, food vendors, health screenings, educational exhibits and prize giveaways.
A central component of the event will be a presentation on local African American history in Florence. Organizers plan to highlight the history of First Baptist African American Church, established in 1870 by the Trustees of the Colored Baptist Association and serving formerly enslaved individuals and freedmen after the Civil War.
Educational programming will also examine African American burial sites at Florence Cemetery, including the graves of veterans, church leaders, and other early Black residents. The Boone County Public Library Archive & History Center will provide historical exhibits and research presentations.
