NORFOLK — Sundresses, sun umbrellas, music and sunglasses, plus playful children running and weaving between tents and food vendors filled Towne Point Park during Saturday afternoon’s Juneteenth celebration.
Juneteenth in the Park kicked off at noon with people dancing on the grass to a DJ, as others lined up to chow down on free hamburgers, chips, hot dogs and other festival fare.
By 1 p.m., people also were lined up in front of booths offering free medical information and testing: the annual festival had a dual mission — providing a fun and safe space to celebrate freedom as well as advice and services from medical and financial experts.
“It’s great to have a party and listen to music and eat and all that,” said Mary Bibbs. “But at the end of the day, we all have a responsibility to make other people’s lives better.”
Juneteenth is a June 19 federal holiday commemorating the final emancipation of enslaved African Americans, and because it falls on a Wednesday, many cities held this year’s celebrations over the weekend.
Bibbs, the founder and primary organizer behind Juneteenth in the Park, said she expected over 20,000 people to attend the festival she described as a party with a purpose.
“How do you celebrate freedom, if you’re not free? If you’re poor, you’re not free. If you don’t have food, you’re not free,” she said.
“Independence comes with knowing where to go to get help, because we all need help from time to time.”
Chesapeake Regional’s Mobile Mammography Unit parked its big, pink bus in the park and offered free mammograms. Medical staff from Sentara Community Care gave free blood pressure checks and tests to help manage signs or symptoms of diabetes.
A long line of information booths stretched through the middle of the park, set up by organizations including the United Way, Black Employee Network, Life Net Health Organ Transplant, Norfolk State University, Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters and Navy Federal, Chartway Federal and BayPort credit unions.
But the booths were just an added benefit for most who’d gone for a simple good time in the sunshine, such as Kenya Lynn, who browsed by a row of vendors deciding what to eat.
“I just thought it’d be a good day to come out. It’s not too hot, and I just wanted to come be around some people outside,” she said.
About 10 yards away, Al Perkins sat in the shade of a tree, vibing to the music. He picked Norfolk’s Juneteenth celebration over the many others in Hampton Roads on Saturday.
“We had options, but we like it here. It’s a nice atmosphere. I like the music, and of course, there’s free food,” he said, laughing and looking out over the Elizabeth River.
On the edge of a river, Michael Thompson stood on the park’s dock next to his boat, which he piloted to the festival.
“I’m here to support freedom,” he said. “It’s a valuable day to me. I like to come out here and enjoy that freedom and to celebrate what our people went through back in the day.”
Thompson, who lives in Chesapeake, spent 27 years in the Navy working as engineer on diesel engines, hydraulic systems and aircraft carrier lifts. On Saturday, he pointed to a Coast Guard vessel and a pair of police boats idling in the river between the Towne Point Park dock, where he stood, and a line of dozens of fishing and pleasure craft out in the water flying “Trump” and “Don’t Tread on Me” flags. He said he’d watched the group of personal craft boats circle up and down the river in front of the park.
“They wait until Juneteenth, round up a line of ‘Trump’ and come right by here,” he said, adding he’s heard people say that “it’s not a divided country.”
“Yes, it is,” he said.
Not too far away, groups of children played corn hole, ate ice cream or danced with their parents.
Colin Warren-Hicks, 919-818-8139, colin.warrenhicks@virginiamedia.com
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