Festivities For Tulsa's Five-Day Juneteenth Festival Begin

On June 16, Congress passed a bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration to commemorate the freeing of the last slaves in America.

This comes as Tulsa holds its biggest-ever Juneteenth Festival, taking place June 16 through June 20.

Events kicked off Wednesday night at Circle Cinema with a screening of a documentary that does not come out until July. This year's festival also includes two extra days and more vendors than ever, according to event organizers.

About 200 people from the Tulsa area got to be some of the first in the country to see Questlove's documentary, "Summer of Soul."

"I think it's a wonderful choice,” said Toneille Bent of Broken Arrow. “You know, music is a tool of activism and change, and we need that right now.”

Lauren Corbitt is a coordinator with the festival, which is hosted by The Black Wall Street Chamber of Commerce.

"We have brought in so much attention over the past couple of years,” said Corbitt. “This festival has grown to be very extensive."

Starting June 17, there will be live entertainment, art exhibits, local vendors and food trucks along Greenwood Avenue.         

Lincoln Cochran with the Black Wall Street Alliance said the world needs to know about Juneteenth and the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

"That attention is so important because without those shared stories, without those people discussing this great history and the rich legacy that is Greenwood, people would not know," said Cochran.

This year's Juneteenth falls during the solemn centennial commemoration of the massacre.

Festival organizers said they hope to honor African American history while offering the community a space to enjoy the fullest expressions of freedom.

"We just want everyone to go away feeling free, feeling like we are renewed,” explained Corbitt.

For a full list of the scheduled events, visit the Tulsa Juneteenth website here.