JAMESTOWN – Jamestown’s Juneteenth festival kicked off Saturday morning with a special ceremony honoring the legacy of a late city councilwoman who had a hand in the yearly celebration.
Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist and Councilwoman Regena Brackman opened the weekend-long festival during a ceremony honoring late Jamestown Councilwoman Victoria James.
Specifically, two trees were planted in her memory at Jackson-Taylor Park.
James, who is credited with organizing the festival for 20 years, passed away unexpectedly earlier this year.
In addition to the trees, a new scholarship in memory of James will include all of the proceeds from the festival’s concession stand.
Just this week declared a federal holiday, Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when Texas slaves were freed when they were notified about the Emancipation Proclamation two and a half years after it was signed.
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