Best Southwest Juneteenth Celebration

Best Southwest Juneteenth Celebration

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Juneteenth Celebration Information

· When: Saturday, June 14, 2008

Moseley Park
1300 Honor Drive

· Sponsored by: DeSoto, Lancaster, Duncanville and Cedar Hill

Join us at Moseley Park as we honor the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery. There will be food, vendor booths, children?s activities, Moseley waterpark will be open, gospel entertainment and much more. Free admission.

For vendor information, entertainment or to volunteer contact Carolyn Campbell at 972.230.9651 or email ccampbell@ci.desoto.tx.us

Food Vendor Application Information Booth Only
Craft Vendor Application Cook Off Application
Entertainment Application Essay Application
Parade Application

History

The Best Southwest area which includes DeSoto, Duncanville, Cedar Hill and Lancaster is so named because of the cities? ability to work together on projects that benefit Southern Dallas County. On June 19, 2004, these cities cooperated once again on a history making event by co-sponsoring a first-ever Best Southwest Juneteenth Celebration. The event has made a complete circle starting in DeSoto in 2004, the City of Lancaster in 2005, the City of Duncanville in 2006 and the City Cedar Hill in 2007.

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with the news that the Civil War had ended and that all slaves were now free. This was two and a half years after President Lincoln?s Emancipation Proclamation ? which had become official on January 1, 1863. In subsequent years, African Americans celebrated Juneteenth with music, skits, barbecuing, picnics and ethnic dress.

happy juneteenth!!!