This Saturday, June 19th is Juneteenth and it may soon be a federal holiday. So what is Juneteenth? It’s a holiday celebrated on the 19th of June which marks the day federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to take control of the state and ensure those who remained enslaved were freed. The troops arrived two and a half years after the signing of the emancipation proclamation. So what does this day mean to me and how to celebrate it locally?

I grew up part of an organization called Jack and Jill of America and we celebrated Juneteenth every year. It’s a day to reflect on the past, honor our ancestors, celebrate our resilience as we look to the future and most importantly eat, drink and be merry! I’ll be spending the day doing just that. To me Juneteenth represents freedom. So use this day to express your freedom to celebrate however you choose. I’ll be somewhere dancing right along with you!

WHERE TO GO

Head to the Norm Dicks Center in Bremerton for their Juneteenth event from 11:30-5pm. The Bainbridge Island Race Equity Advisory Committee will have a table.

WHAT TO EAT

Traditionally red foods seem to be a theme of the day:

…to name a few.

WHAT TO DRINK

Get creative!

WHAT TO READ

WHAT TO WATCH

Ashley Mathews is a real estate agent with Windermere on Bainbridge Island. Ashley moved to the island in 2009 and is a proud Board member of both Treehouse for Kids and the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. When not talking all things real estate she enjoys being a part of Bainbridge’s vibrant equestrian community and seeking out yarn for her next knitting project now that their youngest child is away at college.