DATE: May 29, 2015
MEDIA CONTACT: Catherine McElrath
Libraries Division
EMAIL: cmcelrath@Broward.org
PHONE: 954-357-7402

BROWARD COUNTY, FL - Kick off Broward County Library's Summer R.E.A.D.ing Program and celebrate Juneteenth with the Northwest Branch Library's annual Juneteenth Celebration Blues and Sweet Potato Pie Festival, to be held 11AM to 5PM on Saturday, June 13, 2015, at Apollo Park, located at 1580 NW 3 Ave., Pompano Beach, FL 33060, which is adjacent to the Northwest Branch Library.

From children's fun to great music and food, the Blues and Sweet Potato Pie Festival offers a good time for all ages. Enjoy Joey Gilmore, "the Blues Man," with the Blues Band as well as the Black History Mobile Museum, comedian Natasha Calloway, drama, poetry, dance, contests, face painting, vendors, relay races and a raffle for a 42-inch flat screen television. Children, teens and adults can also register for the 2015 Summer R.E.A.D.ing (Reading, Art, Exploration and Discovery) Program and win prizes for reading this summer.

Held in honor of Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, the annual Juneteenth Celebration Blues and Sweet Potato Pie Festival is free, all ages event presented by the Friends of Northwest Branch Library.

This year's Juneteenth Celebration Blues and Sweet Potato Pie Festival will feature the following:

- 2nd Infantry Regiment United States Colored Troops Living Museum (Tallahassee, Florida)
- Black History Mobile Museum facilitated by Shekina Dellmar Donaldson
- Joey Gilmore "The Blues Man" with the Blues Band
- Blues Singer Maxine York
- Kamili Nilata (Seated Foot Rhythms)
- Derrick the DJ
- Comedian Natasha Calloway
- Poetry by Brian Poem
- Essay Contest Winners
- Vintage Exhibits
- Raffle for 42-inch Flat Screen TV
- Relay Races
- Apple on a String
- Watermelon Eatin' Contest
- Free Face Painting
- Trackless Train
- Mime Performance from Kings School of the Arts
- Dramatization by New Directions Ministry
- Dance Performance from All God's Children Academy
- Vendors

The award-winning Broward County Libraries Division, founded in 1974, is the largest library system in Florida by square footage and one of the busiest, with more than nine million walk-in customers visiting its 37 locations annually. Broward County Libraries Division provides convenient access to a full range of innovative and cost-effective services that satisfy the changing needs of the people of Broward County for information, education and recreation. Visit our web site, Broward.org/Library or follow Libraries on Facebook and Twitter.