News release
WATERTOWN, NY — The Watertown Juneteenth is a family friendly, arts and education community event featuring the talents of soldiers and civilians of the Fort Drum, Watertown, and surrounding communities. Vendors, live music, community health and education organizations and presentations return this year as part of the annual celebration.
The 9th Annual Watertown Juneteenth will begin 11am, Saturday, June 18th, 2022, at Watertown City Hall, 245 Washington Street, with the raising of the Pan-African flag, followed by the rest of the afternoon at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall, 615 W.T. Fields Drive, Watertown, NY 13601. Admission is open to the public and by donation only.
This year’s guest speaker is educator and author, Dr. Seth Asumah. Dr. Asumah is Distinguished Teaching Professor, Chair and Professor of Africana Studies and of Political Science at the State University of New York at Cortland. He is the author of 10 books and over 100 articles, chapters, and essays. His recent work, Race, Gender, and Inclusive Leadership: Valuing Diversity, Questioning Risk Management in the Beloved Community, is scheduled for publication by SUNY Press.
Featured artists this year include, Brooklyn-based, wind and percussion group, The Weusi Ensemble; Syracuse jazz fusion band, SMX; Ft Drum soldier, turned local musical sensation on guitar and vocals, JayP, and more! Youth and adults share poetry, instruments, and inspiration on the Juneteenth stage!
Juneteenth (a combination of the words “June” and “nineteenth”) commemorates the ending of legal slavery in America. Celebrated by Americans since 1865, Juneteenth became a national holiday in 2021. National Juneteenth celebrations honor African American resilience, history, and culture.
About Watertown Juneteenth:
Juneteenth was observed for the first time in Jefferson County in June 2014, when a group of Fort Drum Soldiers, retirees, church, and community members organized and presented a free program at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Watertown, N.Y. To learn more, email: 1watertownjuneteenth@gmail.com or call 315-775-4065.
