JuneTeenth festival takes place Saturday

An honored tradition first started by freed slaves 150 years ago will find a home here Saturday when JuneTeenth is observed for the first time officially in McMinnville.

“It’s a day when everybody can get together and have a good time,” said Jon Officer with Young Men United which is organizing the event. “They’ll be plenty of things for kids and adults to do, like good food, music and games. We’re hoping to make this an annual event.”

The event will be held at Rocket Ballpark off Beesheba Street from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and is open to the public.

According to Officer, JuneTeenth has been celebrated around the country for some time, with its beginnings coming in 1865.

“It originated in Texas and was the day the slaves found out they had been freed, some two years after Lincoln gave the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863,” Officer said, noting word was not received of their freedom until two years after the president’s announcement.

“They were so joyful that they had a celebration which has been renewed each year since then,” Officer said, noting there are several traditions going with JuneTeenth like eating BBQ and drinking strawberry soda, both of which will be available at the local event.