6 cities to visit for unique juneteenth observances

MILWAUKEE Juneteenth started in Galveston, but Milwaukee has been celebrating it for more years without interruption than anywhere else in the country, according to the city festival’s

organizers. Milwaukee had its first Juneteenth celebration in 1971, and last year’s brought in at least 50,000 people. Vendors from as far away as California set up booths to sell food, art

and more. This year’s festival on June 19 will have zones for everyone, including a play area designated for kids, and separate zones for teens, older adults and veterans. The festival will

be wheelchair accessible, and scooters will be available upon request near the senior center. Organizers say the parade and festival are a great opportunity for people of all backgrounds to

learn about and experience African American culture. A tour of Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn, New York, on Juneteenth includes a stop at Harriet Tubman’s grave. Alamy AUBURN, NEW YORK At most

a six-hour drive from major northeastern cities such as New York, Boston and Philadelphia, Auburn prides itself on being the final home of abolitionist Harriet Tubman. Travelers can visit

Tubman’s home, her grave and the church she helped fund. On June 19, historians will lead guided tours, including a free tour of the cemetery where Tubman is buried. The tour will also share

information on other African Americans laid to rest in Fort Hill Cemetery. Another notable piece of Juneteenth programming features political activist and author Angela Davis. Legal analyst

and TV anchor Jami Floyd will moderate a Q&A session with Davis on June 15. Tickets start at $39.19. Berkeley, Califorrnia, in the foreground, is hosting a week’s worth of community

events leading up to the Juneteenth festival on June 18. Getty Images BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA Berkeley’s African American community has organized Juneteenth festivals since 1987. This year,

there’s a new format: a week’s worth of community events across the city, leading up to the Juneteenth festival on Sunday, June 18, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The festival is free to attend and

wheelchair accessible with ADA-compliant toilets. The week before the festival, visitors can choose from community workshops on preserving family stories, healing African American historical

trauma, and using legal strategies to reduce exposure to the criminal justice system. Organizers are also offering an interfaith prayer service and a softball tournament.