Vancouver will celebrate Juneteenth on Sunday, June 19, at Black Culture Celebration's first-ever festival.
Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865.
Held in Sunset Beach Park from noon to 8 p.m., the event will feature over 20 musical artists and DJs, BIPOC vendors and businesses, as well as food trucks for the hungry festival-goer. Admission is donation-based but VIP tickets guaranteeing reserved front row seats and other perks are available for $100 each.
Co-organized by Nova Stevens, who was crowned Miss Universe Canada 2020, Black Culture Celebration marks the third community event put on by Stevens and team.
In 2020, Stevens helped host a peaceful Juneteenth march of over 15,000 people in the streets of Vancouver. She also worked on a similar gathering for Emancipation Day on August 1. British Columbia was the second Canadian province to name August 1 as Emancipation Day, thanks largely in part to Stevens' efforts.
If past successes are any indication, this weekend's event should be a smash hit with music, dancing, food, and other festivities lighting up the neighbourhood with joy.
"We celebrate black culture, black people, and our achievements by bringing people together. Now that we are at the festive phase, we wish to showcase our brilliance and bring people together," writes Stevens on the event website.
All proceeds go to funding the festival, including an honorarium for participating artists. Remaining funds are allocated in support of "Go Supernova," an organization that supports socioeconomically disadvantaged youngsters throughout their formative years. Its mission is to provide a thriving environment for these young people.
