The Juneteenth Celebration Committee has finalized plans for the 28th Celebration to be held in the City of Dunkirk.

Celebration days for this year will be Saturday, June 15, through Sunday, June 16, at Memorial Park, Lake Shore Drive West, Dunkirk, New York. The theme for Juneteenth 2024 is “”The Time Is Always Right To Do What Is Right.”

Saturday, June 15, will begin with Opening Ceremonies at noon entitled “Lest We Forget.”

The committee has once again planned many activities for family enjoyment: Zumba by Jayme, Balloon animals by Tina, Juneteenth BINGO, and Face painting by Sulymar.

The Children’s Tent will also be available for children of all ages that will include board games, sand art, crafts, soccer dart game, skee ball, and more. The Juneteenth basket raffle, Paint and Sip, and ice cream eating contest are all making another appearance this year.

The Health, Education and Labor Fair will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday that will include, among others, the following organizations: STEL, City of Dunkirk Housing Authority, League of Women Voters, Upward Bound Program, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, New York State Troopers, Chautauqua County Office for Aging Services, United Way of Northern Chautauqua County, Chautauqua County Rural Ministry, I.D.E.A. Coalition, Literacy Volunteers, Jamestown Community College, Chautauqua County Democratic Committee, American Red Cross, etc.

The community is invited to come out and support the many vendors that will be present with jewelry, food, crafts, purses, and much more.

Making its second appearance this year will be a Spades Tourney. Spades is a card game invented in the United States in the 1930s and derived from Bid Whist. The winning team will win bragging rights, $100, and two dinners from the Rib Shack.

Continuing with Juneteenth’s “See Me” literacy drive which began during COVID, the Dunkirk Teachers Association will sponsor a book give-away this year. Teachers will also be present to read books to children.

Saturday’s entertainment will end with the band Familiar Spirit from Erie, Pa., who will be entertaining the crowd with their latest music and some Motown standards.

Sunday will include “Church in the Park” with special guest speaker, Elder Jesse LaMar, Assistant Pastor of Open Door No. 5 Church of God in Christ, Buffalo, New York.

The theme for Sunday’s service is “A Love Like No Other.” All churches and members of the community are invited to attend. Sunday will also include a Juneteenth Re-enactment, a dance performance and a Gospel Fest.

All are invited and welcomed to attend this freedom celebration.

Here is the full schedule of events:

SATURDAY, JUNE 15

Noon — Opening Ceremonies, A Tribute to Loved Ones

12:30 p.m. — Juneteenth Basket Raffle; Games of Chance, Children’s Tent, Party Bouncers, crafts, food and vendors

1 — ZUMBA by Jayme

2 — Balloon Animals by Tina, Face Painting by Sulymar; Health, Education and Labor Fair

3 — Ice Cream Eating Contest, Juneteenth BINGO

4 — Spades Tournament

5 — Juneteenth Paint and Sip

6 — Band, Familiar Spirit, Erie, Pa.

7:30 p.m — Juneteenth Basket Raffle Drawing

SUNDAY, JUNE 16

Noon — Gospel DJ; Juneteenth Basket Raffle; Games of Chance, Children’s Tent, Party Bouncers, crafts, food and vendors

1 p.m. — Church in the Park, Guest Speaker Elder Jesse LaMar, Assistant Pastor , Open Door #5 Church of God in Christ, Buffalo.

2 — Juneteenth Re-enactment, Sadiyyah El-Amin-Turner Dance Performance, Balloon Animals by Tina, Face Painting by Sulymar

3 — Gospel Fest

5:30 — Juneteenth Basket Raffle Drawing.