Prairie Village commemorated Juneteenth with music, barbecue and family fun at its sixth annual Juneteenth Freedom Celebration in Harmon Park on Friday night.
Fun features for kids included face painting, balloon animals and a kiddie pool filled with rubber ducks. Everyone was welcome to fill a plate from a barbecue buffet line.
Several attendees appreciated the togetherness vibe of the event.
“It’s important to have conversations and talk to each other and build friendships,” said Rob
Lundien of Fairway.
The event also featured numerous signs that created a timeline of the history of Prairie Village and the ways in which racism played a part in that history. One issue the signs referenced was racial covenants that prevented Black people from owning or renting land in the early years of the city.
“I like how they have the signs about the history of Prairie Village. They’re recognizing it,” said Joy Springfield of Merriam.
Attendees could check off each sign on a card as they read them, then bring the card back to receive a free Juneteenth t-shirt.
George Williams, who led efforts to organize the event with Trudy Williams, said he hoped the event created a sense of community.
“It’s just about being great neighbors. There’s a lot of love in the city,” he said.
Groups that participated in planning the event included Hillcrest Covenant Church, Village
Presbyterian Church, Stand Up for Black Lives + Prairie Village, the Prairie Village diversity
committee and Johnson County NAACP.
Fairway resident Chris Constant said he’s been to the event before and thinks it has really grown.
“The spotlight it puts on this is so important for so many reasons,” Constant said.
