BROWARD COUNTY, FL - Throughout June, Broward County Library will celebrate Juneteenth with a host of programs at participating branches that include special guests, performances, dance parties, storytelling, trivia, quilting, crafting, poster making and the legendary Blues & Sweet Potato Pie Festival, now in its 21st year. 

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration honoring the official end of slavery in the United States. Retired educator, counselor and activist Opal Lee was instrumental in Juneteenth becoming an official holiday and was in attendance at the Presidential signing. She will present live online at "Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom," 1 to 2:30PM on Saturday, June 11th. 

Other noteworthy programs include the African American Research Library and Cultural Center's (AARLCC) BAM! It's Juneteenth - Be Alive through Music, which features Archives After Dark: Hosted by Quadeera Teart; with performances by Hued Songs (history & dance); Darius V. Daughtry (rhythm & spoken word); and featuring The Eric Rawlins Experience, with musician and music educator DJ Nune, aka Lamar Harris, on June 11th from 7 to 9:30 PM. This curated experience features the sounds from the Eric Rawlins Record Collection of nearly 6,000 albums in jazz, rhythm & blues, hip hop, Latino and gospel music genres, now part of AARLCC's Special Collections.

More live performances follow, with Storytelling with Windell Campbell, 2-3PM on June 16th at Carver Ranches Branch and Kris Nicholson Piano Performance at Deerfield Percy White Branch on June 17th from 2 to 4PM.

Tradition continues with the Northwest Branch Library's 21st Annual Blues & Sweet Potato Pie Juneteenth Festival, taking place from 11AM to 5PM on Saturday, June 18th at Apollo Park, which is adjacent to the library. This beloved signature event dishes up BBQ, Civil War historical re-enactors, blues/jazz music, historical display, professional storytelling, children's games, vintage exhibits, health screenings and the kick off of the library's Summer Learning Program. 

All programs are free and open to the public. Preregistration is requested. For a full list of the library's Juneteenth events, please visit the Online Library Events Calendar and enter "Juneteenth" in the search box (date range is June 1-30).

Program sponsorship has been generously provided by the Broward Public Library Foundation. For more information about these programs, please contact Michael Bryant, Adult Services Coordinator, at Mdbryant@broward.org or 954-357-7435.

About Broward County Libraries
Broward County Libraries Division, named 2020 and 2015 Library of the Year by the Florida Library Association, was founded in 1974 and is one of the largest and busiest library systems in Florida. Broward County Libraries Division's 38 locations provide 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 website, Broward.org/Library, or follow Libraries on Facebook and Twitter.