Peekskill celebrates freedom with culture and resilience. On Saturday, June 21, the city center will close several of its main streets during the Juneteenth commemoration with its traditional Parade and Festival. The event, organized by the City of Peekskill Youth Bureau together with the Peekskill Juneteenth Heritage Committee, will combine civic acts, African American cultural expressions, local cuisine, and the participation of community organizations.

The event will begin at 12 noon with a parade that will cover several blocks from Park Street to South Division Street. For an hour and a half, the route will be led by the Grand Marshals, appointed by the organizing committee, and will include marching bands, youth groups, school delegations, fraternities, and sororities. The participation of local percussion groups, school units, and county civic representatives has been confirmed.

Prior to the start of the event, beginning at 10 a.m., Park Street between Bank and Nelson, and South Division between South and Main Street, will be closed. The parade route will remain closed between 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The public is advised to avoid using private vehicles within the perimeter. Organizers also recommend arriving early to ensure pedestrian access and safe positioning.

Starting at 1 p.m., the festival will take place and extend until 7 p.m. in the heart of downtown. Activities will focus around the gazebo area—at the intersection of Park Street and South Division—where continuous presentations of live music, dance, poetry, and youth talents will be held. The program includes genres such as gospel, R&B, and jazz, as well as local groups. Meanwhile, more than 30 booths operated by local entrepreneurs will be set up in the surrounding areas.

Participants will include artisans, designers, independent bookstores, and others. Spaces will also be made available for at least 25 social, educational, and community health organizations. The Juneteenth Festival is also known for its gastronomy, which will feature food trucks, Caribbean dishes, seafood, and local baked goods.

Historical Context
The event commemorates June 19, 1865, the date on which the official announcement of the end of slavery in Texas was made, and it was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021. In Peekskill, the celebration has been established as an act of remembrance, education, and cultural visibility, with intergenerational participation.

[This story has been updated as of 12:21 p.m. Sunday, June 15, with the addition of a flier and the removal of a parade route diagram that contained errors.]