Annual celebration honors freedom, culture, and the legacy of California’s Black gold miners at historic Folsom Lake site

California State Parks, Fiscal Sponsor California Black Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and Stafford Consulting Group, LLC invite the public to the 4th annual BMB Juneteenth Festival, taking place Saturday, June 28 from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Black Miners Bar Recreation Area at Folsom Lake, located at 9698 Greenback Lane in Folsom. This free event celebrates freedom, culture, and history, and also marks the third anniversary of the site’s renaming from Negro Bar to Black Miners Bar, in honor of the Black gold miners who established the area as one of California’s earliest Black communities in 1849.

The festival commemorates June 19, 1865, also known as the second Independence Day, when the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas learned of their freedom—over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Established as a federal holiday in 2021, Juneteenth honors the effective end of slavery in the United States and the continued pursuit of equity.

The Juneteenth Festival at Black Miners Bar is a not-for-profit based community effort produced by California State Parks, Stafford Consulting Group, and a growing number of sponsors and community partners including Choose Folsom, Visit Sacramento, SEIU UHW AFRAM, SEIU 2015, Kaiser Permanente, SMUD, and more.

Festival highlights include living history exhibits exploring Juneteenth and Black gold mining heritage, featuring the renowned Buffalo Soldiers of Northern California 10th Cavalry Regiment, Company G, who will recreate an authentic historical encampment. Attendees can indulge in an array of culinary delights from carefully selected food vendors and enjoy inspiring speeches and captivating performances that honor the spirit of Juneteenth. Live music will fill the air with performances by The LSB Band, Ariel Marin Band, the award-winning Grant Line Marching Band, and additional acts throughout the evening.

Additional activities include guided nature hikes through the scenic Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, a Kids Zone with interactive fun for younger attendees, and a wide variety of vendors offering unique products and services. Visitors can unwind in the beer garden featuring selections from Oak Park Brewery, take part in horseback riding adventures, or explore the lake’s sparkling waters with paddle sport rentals.

For more information, visit JuneteenthFolsom.org or call (916) 341-9771.

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<p>The post Juneteenth Festival Returns to Black Miners Bar Saturday June 28 first appeared on Folsom Times.</p>