Juneteenth Celebrations Sunday June 19 in Milwaukee

Milwaukee has the distinction of holding one of the oldest Juneteenth celebrations in the country.

It marks the historic occasion in 1865 when all the slaves finally got word of emancipation.

The parade starts at 10 a.m. Sunday at 8th and Abert with a parade. This is a new start location from years past. But because this year's event falls on a Sunday, organizers wanted to make sure it wouldn't create a traffic back up with a nearby church. 

Then there's a family friendly street festival until 6 p.m. along Martin Luther King Drive between Center and Burleigh until 6 p.m.

Food is a cornerstone of this celebration with various vendors cooking up crowd favorites.

It is also a chance to enjoy live entertainment with African American culture displays.

The event is rooted in the African American experience but organizers hope there will be community wide participation.

It's also a chance to generate extra commerce for the man locally owned businesses that line MLK.

Many local lawmakers turn out, giving residents a chance to meet in person the people who represent them.

Miss Juneteenth and fellow contestants will also be on hand to greet the crowd.

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