If you and your friends and family are in the mood for some festive fun, entertainment, shopping, historical story telling, and good food then you may want to check out the Juneteeth Festival on Saturday June 16th, 2011, location to be announced. For those of you not in the know, Juneteeth "Celebration of Freedom Weekend" is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. It was on June 19, 1865 some two and half years after the Emanicipation Proclamation that news broke to those Americans in Texas that the war had ended and the enslaved were now free. Since then generations upon generations of African Americans along with other ethnic communities have commemorated the day as one of reflection, faith, renewal, community and cultural pride.

Imagine strolling along, eyes closed, breathing in the night air and hearing the soft sounds of a steel drum. The Caribbean bop then becomes a drum beat with a West African flair. The cadence gently becomes a syncopated conga with an afro Cuban swing. You take in a deep breath of fragrant spices and flavors waiting to be savored. You gently squeeze your son's hand as you walk throught the gates and into Juneteenth.

Juneteenth is the embodiment of a transformation of hobby into art, tradition into culture, freedom songs into refined music. It conjures up a culture rich in American traditions and values as well as global influences. It is a festival of families coming together to celebrate achievement, education, commerce, art, health and wellness, and, of course, to feed your soul. Take a journey through Juneteenth.