For information about the Town of Cortlandt’s Juneteenth celebration on Friday, June 19, click HERE.
Amid gospel music, African drumming, community yoga, planting activities, dance, poetry and a parade that will wind through downtown streets, Peekskill is preparing to commemorate Juneteenth. The celebration recalls one of the most significant moments in American history: the day enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were finally informed of their freedom.
Over the coming days, parks, community spaces and city streets will host activities and diverse expressions of culture, community and civic engagement. What began as the commemoration of a historic event on June 19, 1865, has evolved into a kind of national celebration. In Peekskill, the observance combines historical memory, art, education, music and neighborhood gathering.
The festive spirit of Juneteenth will be reflected in a program that includes agricultural activities, community wellness, artistic performances, social gatherings and one of the city’s most important multicultural celebrations of the year. In 2026, the observance carries added significance as it marks the 15th anniversary of the parade and festival organized by the Peekskill Youth Bureau and the Juneteenth Heritage Committee.
According to a memorandum submitted by Darryl Francis, Youth Advocate and Juneteenth Chair for the Peekskill Youth Bureau, the occasion plays an important role in preserving collective memory. Francis noted that for the past 14 years, the City of Peekskill and the Juneteenth Heritage Committee have organized activities to honor the occasion through a wide variety of experiences and to engage the entire family.
The calendar will officially begin on June 11 with a flag-raising ceremony scheduled for 6 p.m. in front of Peekskill City Hall. Two days later, on June 13, the commemoration will move to Peekskill Regeneration Farm for a free day of agriculture, wellness and connection to the land. The event, scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m. at the farm located at 800 Main St., will be held under the theme “Honoring Our Past, Planting Our Future.”
According to information shared by organizers on digital platforms, the afternoon will feature planting activities, outdoor games, crafts, music and gathering spaces for all ages. The schedule includes a welcome and hands-on farm activities from 1 to 2 p.m., a free community yoga session from 2 to 2:45 p.m., a spoken-word performance by Shishi from 2:45 to 3:15 p.m., and a line-dancing session led by Steve from 3:15 to 4 p.m.
Free food will also be available for attendees. In addition, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Peekskill branch, will host a voter registration table where residents age 18 and older may register to vote or verify their voter registration status.
The celebration will continue on June 19, the official date of Juneteenth, with Gospel in the Park. The event, scheduled for 1 p.m., will take place at Pugsley Park, 1038 Main St. The centerpiece of the celebration will arrive on June 20 with the 15th Annual Juneteenth Parade and Festival. The parade will begin at noon at A.M.E. Zion Church on Park Street and will travel through several city streets befor
e concluding near the area where the community festival will take place in downtown Peekskill.
The official memorandum, approved in January, details the parade route, which will proceed along Grant Street and continue onto Park Street, Broad Street, Brown Street and South Division Street. Street closures related to the parade will remain in effect from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The festival will then begin at 1 p.m. and continue through 7 p.m. Traffic restrictions for that portion of the celebration will be in effect from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and will include Park Street between Bank Street and Nelson Avenue, South Division Street between South Street and Main Street, and the parking area known as Parking Lot K.
The event announcement includes a schedule featuring live entertainment, food and craft vendors, food trucks, community organizations, family activities and a children’s area with face painting. DJ Tommydidit is also confirmed to perform, along with cultural presentations featuring gospel music, jazz, dance and African drumming.
One of the most notable moments of the day will be the participation of the Grand Marshals selected to lead this year’s parade. During a recent Common Council meeting, Melvin “Mel” Bolden, Lt. Khalia Carter, Edward “Tre” Stanton Johnson III, posthumously, and the Peekskill NAACP were recognized.
Organizers highlighted Bolden’s contributions to education and the performing arts, Carter’s work with the Community Policing Unit, Johnson’s athletic and educational legacy, and the NAACP’s contributions to civil rights, social justice and community empowerment.
