POTSDAM -- The sixth annual Potsdam community-wide Juneteenth Celebration will be held on Saturday, June 21 from 3 to 8 p.m., at the Ives Park Gazebo, behind the hotel and public parking lot at 1 Main St. in Potsdam. The community is invited to attend this welcoming cultural event. 

This is a free, family-friendly celebration of the culture of African-Americans and provides a space for Black voices to be honored in the community. The public is invited to learn about Juneteenth, African-American culture, and local history through entertainment, exhibitors, displays and brief  historical presentations. 

All are welcome to bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket and enjoy music, speeches, community, and fun for the kids. 

The celebration features family-friendly music and speakers centered on Juneteenth themes. There will be dancing, a little Electric Slide, and fun for all ages. The day will close with a 30-minute dance party DJ’d by K Twist FM3.

Featured musical performers include K Twist FM3 (Hip Hop and Rap, just returned from a UK tour); Benjamin Mambou (smooth jazz and acoustic guitar); Paul Meyers (internationally acclaimed contemporary jazz guitar master); Odessa Moses (cover songs with vocals and piano); and, ilovee (TJ Marshall with alternative rock), with sound provided by Barker Productions.

The day will also include many children’s activities, a bounce house from Capture Culture, and a Black Is Beautiful Fashion Show, which welcomes more participants of all ages by emailing PotsdamJuneteenth@gmail.com. Arts vendors and community organizations will participate with booths and tables.

Free snacks and drinks will be provided, including juice, water, fresh fruit, and Juneteenth cupcakes. Unfortunately, the free dinner cannot be provided this year but will be back in 2026, so feel free to bring your own food and drink. A list of local restaurants you can order food delivery from will be provided.

There is no cost at all to attend, but donations are welcome to enable this free event at their 2025 Go Fund Me page that can be found at bit.ly/4l1tfQ0. Volunteers to help that day are also welcome and can sign up at bit.ly/43UMtzW.

Juneteenth is Freedom Day for African-Americans, a celebration to mark the day when the last remaining American slaves learned they were finally free from bondage in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, over two years after President Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation. In 2021, Juneteenth became a federal holiday.

Sponsors for the event include the First Presbyterian Church of Potsdam, Potsdam Food Co-op, Potsdam United Methodist, Poor People’s Campaign of .the North Country, Local Living Venture, Pamoja International Cultural Exchange (PICEI), Church of LatterDay Saints, Trinity Episcopal Church, Barker Productions, ASyncArts and Big Spoon Kitchen, with media sponsor North Country Public Radio.

The rain location is at the First Presbyterian Church of Potsdam, 42 Elm Street in Potsdam.

Contact PotsdamJuneteenth@gmail.com and access the event listing on Facebook at the link bit.ly/4mPYBuF or @PotsdamJuneteenthCelebration, and on Instagram.