June 19th marked the third consecutive year that Juneteenth has been designated as a federally recognized holiday in the United States. But the history of the annual celebration goes back to the early 1900s when informal gatherings were held by African Americans in parts of Arizona. Many believe these gatherings began 120 years ago. This year, the Juneteenth Parade and Music festival in Atlanta took place on June 21st - 23rd at Piedmont Park - a shift from the previous years location at Centennial Park in downtown Atlanta.
This move, they claim, offered organizers the opportunity to expand and utilize a park with more space, although in reality, only a small portion of the park was used by food and entertainment vendors. The most notable addition was the giant section of attractions for the kids including bouncy houses front and center on the Piedmont Park lawn, right in the two entertainment stages. There were also rides and a magic house that apparently had to be shut down temporarily due to safety concerns around the exit point of the slide which ended on the concrete.
For the adults (aka bigger kids) there was a boxing/wresting match ring, a VR roller coaster ride, and a shaded chill pad sponsored by Cisco that included a mist station, cornhole, basketball connect 4, and giant jenga. This area pretty much resembled a VIP section but it was totally free. It was the perfect place for grand parents to come hang out, watching the children so mommy and daddy could sneak away and try the food.
The food we tried was good and as you would expect, the prices were to be desired. We didn't really get anything extravagant, just chicken strips and fries. But for me, my wife, her parents, and the 2 children, the total came out to about $70 (Thank God for Grandparents!). Most of the caribbean food started at $20 and, yes, it was one of those white containers you'd get when you visit them direct. But, not enough of us are into caribbean cuisine to justify the cost so unfortunately, I missed out. We did get to try a sample of italian ice and, even in the shade of the tree, it melted rapidly as we launched it down our throats. But, it was amazing.
Piedmont always draws an interest crowd - event in 98 degree weather. The mix of demographics makes it a place to embark upon if you're a New Yorker and you want and semblance of that NY feel back in your life. Not unlike NY, you'll probably see a dog on a skateboard, or a python on the pavement, as we did as we made our way around the park. It's the same guy, whom I happen to know personally, who shows up to every festival with pythons small, medium, and large. But, this time, he wasn't the only joe in town as there were lizards on deck as well.
Overall, we had an amazing time at the 120th anniversary of the Juneteenth Parade and Music Festival held at Piedmont Park in Atlanta, GA. The bouncy houses kept the kids busy and made for a quiet car ride home. The food and music made the trip worth while for our in-laws, giving them an experience that their hometown just didn't exactly match up to. It was good to see other races join in support of the festival, even if it was just because the location happened to be their pre-determined destination or because they needed signatures for a petition. During our time there, everything went without a hitch - no disruptions, no violence, no side-eyes. Just food, drink, music, and celebration - as it was originally intended.
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