Poster for the 1st Juneteenth Celebration in downtown Wausau. (Photo courtesy of the Juneteenth Planning Committee).
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — A celebration to celebrate the official end of slavery is coming to Central Wisconsin.
A group of local activists has put together a Juneteenth Celebration to be held in downtown Wausau on Saturday, June 19th. Juneteenth is a holiday to celebrate the official end of slavery on June 19th, 1866, and is also known as Emancipation Day.
The event will be split into two different portions that include a family-friendly portion from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and then an open mic night more geared to adults from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event will include kids’ activities like an obstacle course, a bounce house, book reading, and crafts, live music, local minority vendors, and a Juneteenth King and Queen crowning. The mic night will be focused on people sharing their stories in various performance art forms on topics of race and social justice.
One of the organizers for the event Gwen Taylor says the event is for everyone in the area. “This is a celebration of the emancipation day. This is a celebration of freeing slaves and that is to everyone’s benefit. So this celebration is for everyone. It is not at all an exclusive event. This is an event the entire community can come out and celebrate diversity in a country that’s hopefully moving forward.”
Along with having several ways to celebrate the new Federal Holiday, the event will also serve as a vaccine clinic. Doses of the Johnson and Johnson and the Pfizer vaccine will be available from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. and everyone that gets vaccinated will get a $20 gift card. Those ages 12 and up can get a vaccine, anyone under the age of 18 does need a parent present. Taylor says they hope to vaccinate 100 people at the event on Saturday.
When asked what the hopeful outcome of the event is, Taylor says, “It kind of depends on who you are. I hope that black and brown people that are coming out to the event get a sense of inclusion and that they’re welcome here. And that they feel celebrated and have the opportunity to connect to one another. I hope that all of the wonderful white allies that are coming out are given an opportunity to talk to their families and their kiddos about it.
“And just show their support and their allyship. And kind of counter some of the messages and narrative that’s going on in our community today. That maybe isn’t that they’re so welcomed here and really counter that narrative in saying that we want you here. We are excited that our community is diverse and vibrant and we want that to continue to grow. But ultimately I hope everybody just comes out has a good time, learns a little bit of something and connects to one of their neighbors.”
The event is being held at the Whitewater Music Hall and Brew Works located at 130 1st Street in Wausau. The planning committee hopes to make the Juneteenth celebration an annual event.
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