Palm Springs, CA

The City of Palm Springs and the Palm Springs Back History Committee will proudly host a Juneteenth Royal Pageant and Celebration Freedom Day, June 14-15, to mark the upcoming Juneteenth holiday weekend.

Juneteenth is a federal holiday celebrated on June 19 to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. The holiday was first celebrated in Texas, where on that date in 1865, the aftermath of the Civil War, slaves were declared free under the terms of the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation.

The festivities will be held on the following dates: 

• Friday, June 15, King & Queen Royal Pageant, 4 pm, James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center, 480 W. Tramview Road, Palm Springs. For more information, call (760) 323-8271
• Saturday, June 15, Juneteenth Celebration Freedom Day, featuring an array of educational cultural activities, live music, free food and camel rides, and a tribute to Desert Highland community leader James O. Jessie, 5 pm – 9 pm, James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center, 480 W. Tramview Road, Palm Springs. For more information, call (760) 323-8271.

“Juneteenth is an important celebration and reminder about how far we have come as a nation,” said Jarvis Crawford, manager of the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center. “Everyone is invited!”