Houston's Juneteenth Celebration: #3 Hotspot In the Nation

According to "Destination America" in the May '08 issue of the Smithsonian Magazine, Houston's Juneteenth celebration is the #3 hotspot in the month of June, and Houstonist doesn't think it has anything to do with the temperature outside. Juneteenth is a celebration of the abolition of slavery, and it originated right here in the Houston area (OK, Galveston to be exact) when in 1865 Major General Gordon Granger declared the emancipation of all slaves.

The celebration of Emancipation Day eventually became known as Juneteenth, and it is officially recognized throughout the United States. This year the Houston Institute for Culture has planned a lineup of musical acts from across the Gulf Coast, featuring ReBirth Brass Band (pictured), Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie, Sherman Robertson with special guest Trudy Lynn, and much more. Young local artists Tamara Williams (Gospel), Tony Henry (Singer-songwriter) and Corey Ledet (Zydeco) will also be performing music commissioned for the celebration. Join us Thursday in celebrating this Houston tradition at Miller Outdoor Theater in Hermann Park. Additional event information and artist bios are available at: http://www.june19.org

7:00 p.m. Thursday, June 19
@ Miller Outdoor Theatre,
100 Concert Drive in Hermann Park
Free

Image: Joel Mann on Flickr