5 Things You Need to Know About Attending the I Am Juneteenth Festival In Fort Worth, TX

Juneteenth National Independence Day, or Juneteenth, is the commemoration of the day slaves learned of their emancipation. On June 19, 1865, Union Army Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed slaves about the Emancipation Proclamation that President Abraham Lincoln issued two years prior. This day, also known as Emancipation Day, became a Texan state holiday in 1980 and a federal holiday in 2021. Unity Unlimited, Inc., hosts a variety of Juneteenth events in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and we’ve created a list of things you need to know about attending the I Am Juneteenth Festival in 2022.

 I Am Juneteenth Festival Event Details

Image via Flickr by USAG-Humphreys | CC BY 2.0

The I Am Juneteenth Festival is a community event scheduled for Saturday, June 18, 2022. It’s set to begin at 4 p.m. and will be held at Panther Island Pavilion. Located just off Trinity River, the pavilion provides plenty of space for social distancing to help families enjoy all the festivities the day has to offer, and the venue typically has plenty of parking available. Consider bringing a blanket to sit on the grass comfortably while you enjoy the event featuring food and drinks, music, games, and fireworks.

Location: Panther Island Pavilion, 395 Purcey St., Fort Worth

Ticket Options

Attending the I Am Juneteenth Festival requires an admission ticket that you can purchase online. General admission for the event is $20 per person plus a $.50 service fee, and VIP admission is $100 per person plus a $2.50 service fee. Upgrading to the VIP experience provides you with access to an exclusive lounge with air conditioning, a full-service bar, a gourmet meal, games, and more. The expected attendance for the event is more than 12,000 people, so be sure to get your tickets early.

What To Do

The I Am Juneteenth Festival promises fun for the whole family. With more than 100 expected vendors, there will be plenty of delicious local food and drinks to try. Kids may enjoy playing in the Kid Zone, and both kids and kids at heart may enjoy trying their hand at carnival-style games. Take in live music throughout the event, and don’t miss a spectacular fireworks display at the end.

Opal’s Walk for Freedom

Opal’s Walk for Freedom returns this year on Saturday, June 18, 2022. Led by the nicknamed “Grandmother of Juneteenth” Opal Lee, this 2.5-mile walk symbolizes the two and a half years it took for the news of the Emancipation Proclamation to reach slaves in Texas. The walk begins at 10 a.m. in the Historic Southside at the site of the future home of the National Juneteenth Museum, and it concludes at the New City Hall Building.

Opal Lee, or as Ms. Opal as she’s referred to, began her walk for freedom to generate attention for the need to recognize Juneteenth as a federal holiday. While her walk began in Fort Worth, she completed it in other cities to help continue the push for making Juneteenth a national day of observance. In June 2021, her walk took her to Washington, D.C., where she was present for President Joe Biden signing the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, making the day a federal holiday. As a lifelong educator, Ms. Opal continues the walk to encourage educating others about Juneteenth.

Registration for Opal’s Walk for Freedom is available online. Adult registration is $35 per person, and youth registration is $25 per person. If you won’t be in the Fort Worth area on June 18 but still want to participate, you’re able to register to walk with Ms. Opal virtually or to join a team throughout the country.

Starting Location: 1050 Evans Ave., Fort Worth
Ending Location: 100 Energy Way, Fort Worth

Other Juneteenth Events

Unity Unlimited, Inc., is a nonprofit organization that aims to provide educational activities and resources to create and foster harmony within its local communities. As such, one of its largest projects each year is the Juneteenth Fort Worth Celebration. The goal of this event is to show how this holiday can unify people, educate people about freedom, and ensure the nation understands people had to work together to free the slaves.

While the I Am Juneteenth Festival is at the center of this celebration, other events throughout the summer include:

Youth Art Competition & Exhibit

The Youth Art Competition & Exhibit is an opportunity for young people to learn more about Juneteenth. The competition prompts students to learn more about the 12 Freedoms gained as a result of Juneteenth and the history of this holiday. Based on what they learn, students are to create an original piece of art that demonstrates their understanding or interpretation. The competition is open to elementary, middle, and high school artists, and students submit their art online for exhibition and judgment.

Your Voice Unleashed

Your Voice Unleashed is a free fine arts clinic for teens that provides them with training about choice, dance, mime, and video production. The workshop, which requires preregistration, runs from Monday, June 20, through Friday, June 24, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the event concludes with a concert on Saturday, June 25, at 7 p.m. The goal of Your Voice Unleashed is to provide teens with a safe, positive summer activity.

Empowering You Education, Job and Health Fair

Empowering You Education, Job and Health Fair is a one-day event that aims to use education to reduce disparities in opportunities that may exist. The event involves providing access to important business, college recruitment, financial education, health care, and job recruitment information people may not know. While the event requires preregistration, it’s open to job seekers and businesses alike to help them grow. Empowering You will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 2.

Location: Bob Duncan Center, 2800 S. Center St., Arlington

That brings us to the end of our list of things you need to know about attending the I Am Juneteenth Festival. At Hiley Mazda of Fort Worth, we’re proud to serve our local community, and we hope this guide helped you learn more about everything this festival has to offer. Concerned we miss something important? Drop us a line to let us know. We may even update our list to include your feedback.