Tulsa Juneteenth Festival wraps up with support and entertainment for the community

Tulsa, Okla. (KTUL) — Today’s the last day of the Tulsa Juneteenth Festival, a community funded event, remembering June 19th, 1865, when enslaved people were declared free.

At the festival, NewsChannel 8 spoke with the event’s organizer and learned not only about their plans to provide resources to the community through this event, but also their plans to keep those at the festival cool and hydrated.

“This is something that’s been really, really big in Tulsa for a very long time,” said Lauren Corbitt-Evans, the Executive Director for Tulsa Juneteenth Incorporated

The Tulsa Juneteenth Festival is an annual event created, supported and operated by Tulsa Juneteenth and the Tulsa Community.

“It’s something that’s really important to the Black community here in Tulsa,” said Corbitt-Evans.

NewsChannel 8 spoke with Corbitt-Evan on Thursday during the event’s block party.

“We have a bunch of local artists that are here to perform for the community,” said Corbitt-Evans.

She says that day, they also had a ribbon cutting for small businesses.

“In addition, we had our Black Wall Street pitch competition that we just wrapped up,” said Corbitt-Evans.

She says that the festival is made up of events that provide resources to the community.

“We are having a full wellness program that includes a 5K, a mile run, It includes some exercise classes as well as a family field day to celebrate our children and the freedom through education,” said Corbitt-Evans.

With hot temperatures this weekend, she says there are things they’re doing to keep people hydrated and cool.

“We have our water truck that comes down every year to provide free water for people,” said Corbitt-Evans.

To keep people cool, she says they also have cooling tents.

“We also have medical services and staff that are here throughout the festival to make sure that everyone’s safe,” said Corbitt-Evans.

The festival wrapped up tonight with a concert but there are after party events happening right now. There is also an event the day after the Juneteenth holiday. On June 20th, they’re hosting a movie night at Guthrie Green, where they’ll show the documentary, Riding Legacy.

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