The Skokie Park District will host a celebration of Juneteenth, a commemoration of the day the Emancipation Proclamation was fully realized throughout the United States, at Oakton Park Saturday.
The event will take place from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and will feature music and dance performances, a proclamation delivered by village Trustee Keith Robinson and a keynote address from Cherese Ledet, the CEO of the Evanston and North Shore YWCA, according to park district information.
Concession booths will be providing food available for purchase, according to the Skokie Park District, which advised attendees to bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating. Oakton Park has a parking lot but it sometimes fills up during popular events.
The Skokie Village Board also read an official proclamation recognizing June 19 as Juneteenth at its June 5 board meeting.
The schedule for the event is as follows, per the Skokie Park District website:
1 p.m. – African Drums by Tony Garrett
1:15 p.m. – Storytime with Nonku Kunene Adumetey
1:30 p.m. – Magic of WhoSay
1:45 p.m. – GreanTTea Band
2 p.m. – Welcome & Black National Anthem
2:15 p.m. – Praise Dance Performance by De’Erin Hickman and Javonte Barber
2:20 p.m. – Juneteenth Proclamation: Dr. Keith Robinson, Skokie Board of Trustees
2:30 p.m. – Keynote Speaker: Cherese Ledet, CEO YWCA Evanston/North Shore
2:40 p.m. – Gospel performance by Bessie Simmons
3 p.m. – South Shore Drill Team
3:45 p.m. – Phillip Michael Scales
4:30 p.m. – Eric Dozier
5:20 p.m. – Seth Watson
6 p.m. – J Grant Experience
