Fillmore District Celebrates Return Of Juneteenth Fest
61st SF Juneteenth Festival brings live music, great food and a parade to the Fillmore district this weekend, returning to the neighborhood for the first time after three years of holding the festivities in Civic Center Plaza. Commemorating the day that the last American slaves in Texas got the good news of freedom (June 19th, 1865 — a full two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclaimation was signed), Juneteenth is a cultural a historical celebration that has a long tradition in the Bay Area.
On Saturday starting at 11 a.m., the Juneteenth Parade will depart from its staging area at the Civic Center before heading up MacAllister, right on Webster, left on Turk, right on Steiner and right on Ellis before finally ending near the Festival site. Participating groups include high school marching units and bands, honor roll students from various SF public schools, car caravans and floats from community centers.
For this year’s festival, organizers have set up entertainment on two stages that will feature a variety of musical styles.