The crowd came early Monday afternoon for the Lehigh Valley’s first Juneteenth parade, which capped off a week of celebrations and events for the holiday.
Memorializing the day in 1865 when the last Black enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were freed, Juneteenth has become a nationwide celebration of the emancipation of Black people across the United States after the Civil War. June 19 was declared a national holiday in 2021.
Juneteenth Lehigh Valley, an organization that honored the holiday with numerous events the past week, threw Monday’s parade in Easton, bringing throngs of people into Centre Square, stretching out onto Northampton Street.
Dance troupes, musicians, local organizations, youth sports teams, classic cars, motorcycles and more marched through Downtown Easton. The southern half of Centre Square was packed with attendees and vendors as the parade passed through the circle.
It was the culmination of a full week of Juneteenth events around the Lehigh Valley, including flag-raising ceremonies, dining experiences, a SteelStacks music festival and more.
Check out the gallery below for photos of the parade:
Performers from Karar Liturgical Dance Ministry do a dance routine in front of the grandstand during the first Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade, held June 19, 2023, in Easton.
Shawn “Poochie” Williams, of Easton, watches the first Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade, held June 19, 2023, in Easton. “Juneteenth is a holiday and it’s something African Americans really, really need,” she said. “We need that unity.”
A young girl waves a Juneteenth flag as the crowd watches the first Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade, held June 19, 2023, in Easton.
Juneteenth Lehigh Valley holds its first parade on June 19, 2023, in Easton.
A crowd watches the first Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade, held June 19, 2023, in Easton.
Alani Pintabone, 3, of Easton waves a Juneteenth flag from the sunroof of her car as as she participates in the Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade on June 19, 2023, in Easton.
Boxer Larry Holmes, the “Easton Assassin,” is among the first particpants in the first Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade, held June 19, 2023, in Easton.
Performers from Karar Liturgical Dance Ministry do a dance routine in front of the grandstand during the first Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade, held June 19, 2023, in Easton.
Performers from Karar Liturgical Dance Ministry do a dance routine in front of the grandstand during the first Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade, held June 19, 2023, in Easton.
The Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club participates in the first Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade, held June 19, 2023, in Easton.
The Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club participates in the first Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade, held June 19, 2023, in Easton.
Juneteenth Lehigh Valley holds its first parade on June 19, 2023, in Easton.
Performers from Second Baptist Church in Bethlehem march in the first Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade, held June 19, 2023, in Easton.
Performers from Second Baptist Church in Bethlehem perform in front of the grandstand during the first Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade, held June 19, 2023, in Easton.
Performers from Second Baptist Church in Bethlehem perform in front of the grandstand during the first Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade, held June 19, 2023, in Easton.
Freemasons of the Absalom Jones Lodge No. 109 Easton march in the first Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade, held June 19, 2023, in Easton.
Members of the Allentown Alumnae chapter of Delta sigma theta sorority incorporated participate in the Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade on June 19, 2023, in Easton.
Members of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. Omega Xi Chapter participate in the Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade on June 19, 2023, in Easton.
Members of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. Omega Xi Chapter participate in the Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade on June 19, 2023, in Easton.
Performers from Omega Psi Phi fraternity dance and chant in front of the grandstand during the first Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade, held June 19, 2023, in Easton.
The West Powelton Steppers and Drum Squad struts in front of the grandstand during first Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade, held June 19, 2023, in Easton.
The West Powelton Steppers and Drum Squad struts in front of the grandstand during first Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade, held June 19, 2023, in Easton.
A crowd watches the first Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade, held June 19, 2023, in Easton.
The West Powelton Steppers and Drum Squad struts in front of the grandstand during first Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade, held June 19, 2023, in Easton.
Karen Britt, president of Juneteenth Lehigh Valley, delivers speaks just before stepoff of the first Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade, held June 19, 2023, in Easton.
Elijah Gibson, 1, is held by his great-grandfather, Larry Gibson, of Easton, as they watch the first Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade, held June 19, 2023, in Easton.
An onlooker has a Juneteenth flag stuck in their hat during the first Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade, held June 19, 2023, in Easton.
A crowd watches the first Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade, held June 19, 2023, in Easton.
A crowd watches the first Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade, held June 19, 2023, in Easton.
A crowd watches the first Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade, held June 19, 2023, in Easton.
A spectator waves a Juneteenth flag as the crowd watches the first Juneteenth Lehigh Valley parade, held June 19, 2023, in Easton.
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