Orange County’s celebration of Junteenth and the culture and impact of its Black community continued on Saturday.
Santa Ana and Irvine both had celebrations, with Irvine city leaders teaming up again with BIPOC Orange County for an afternoon event at the Great Park.
This was the city’s third annual Juneteenth event celebrating “freedom, hope and joy that honors the history and contributions of Black Americans” in the community.
The afternoon featured music and dancing, poetry readings and art displays.
Juneteenth celebrates ‘turning point’ in Black, American history
African Soul International dancer, Cordell Junior Purnell, performs with his 11 siblings during Irvine’s third annual Juneteenth Freedom Celebration at the Great Park on Saturday, June 22, 2024. The event celebrates the end of slavery in the U.S. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Kloe Wilson,6, takes her siblings: Kai, 1, and Kira, 4, out for spin during Irvine’s third annual Juneteenth Freedom Celebration at the Great Park on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Their parents were keeping watch from their nearby booth, Kailifornia, where they were selling jewelry and accessories at the event. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
African art is displayed at at Lisa Williams’ black art and novelties booth where Charlie Jean Pierre walks by with his dog, Kiki. They were at Irvine’s third annual Juneteenth Freedom Celebration at the Great Park on Saturday, June 22, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A patron peruses Lisa Williams’ African art booth during Irvine’s third annual Juneteenth Freedom Celebration at the Great Park on Saturday, June 22, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Thiane Diouf drums with African Soul International during Irvine’s third annual Juneteenth Freedom Celebration at the Great Park on Saturday, June 22, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Irvine’s third annual Juneteenth Freedom Celebration at the Great Park features music, art, food and children’s activities on Saturday, June 22, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A diminutive dancer with African Soul International waits to perform with her siblings during Irvine’s third annual Juneteenth Freedom Celebration at the Great Park on Saturday, June 22, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
African Soul International dancer, Michael Purnell, 8, performs with his 11 siblings during Irvine’s third annual Juneteenth Freedom Celebration at the Great Park on Saturday, June 22, 2024. The event celebrates the end of slavery in the U.S. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Adama Jewel Jackson, left, with African Soul International, dances with Vanessa Barkus of Huntington Beach during Irvine’s Juneteenth celebration at the Great Park on Saturday, June 22, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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