FORT COLLINS, Colo. — The Fort Collins Juneteenth Celebration runs Friday through Sunday, to celebrate the federal holiday.
Organizers said its inspiration came from other, smaller celebrations held all over town. This is the third year for the celebration that includes physical fitness activities, food trucks, painting, gospel singing, vendors and more.
“It's bringing the community together, the Fort Collins community, the surrounding community throughout Colorado, and wherever, coming here to celebrate Juneteenth,” said vendor William Bell.
William Bell has been selling at the Fort Collins Juneteenth celebration for all three years it's been running.
“This a company I founded here in 2012 here in Fort Collins,” Bell said. “It's called SIC970. I’m about different social causes I am passionate about. I am about the environment, world peace, anti-racism and empowerment of women and girls.
“So Juneteenth for me is an opportunity for my community, specifically the Black community, to pause and pay homage to our ancestors and look at what we have done and what we have come through, but also thinking about what we can achieve,” said Fort Collins Juneteenth Committee Co-Chair Bridgette Johnson.
Johnson said seeing the big turnout is heartwarming.
“It makes me smile, it makes my heart smile,” Johnson said. “It goes to show you this is not just for Black folks, this is for our community.”
It's a diverse group of customers, and vendors, joining forces for Juneteenth.
“There's a mixture of everything just like our community, just like the United States, we are a mixture and we are all coming together to celebrate Juneteenth,” Bell said.
For a full list of activities, click here.
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