McKeesport NAACP teams up with city for Juneteenth celebration
The three-day celebration kicks off Friday with a gala at the McKeesport Palisades.
By THOMAS LETURGEY
For the MVI
McKeesport’s Juneteenth celebration will be bigger and more expansive this year, said Mayor Thomas Maglicco. In addition, this will be the first year McKeesport NAACP Unit 2269 will be working with the city for a “celebration of Freedom, Community and Culture.”
“We started planning this last summer,” said Ashante Kirby of the city’s NAACP. “We talked about ideas and concepts.”
The first event of the threeday observance is significant. On Friday, NAACP McKeesport Unit 2269 will sponsor the Black and Gold Excellence Cabaret. Titled an “Elegant Evening of Celebration and Culture,” the event will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. at the McKeesport Palisades. There will be a live DJ, line dancing, “curated vibes” and door prizes.
“It’s BYOE,” added Kirby, and attendees are encouraged to “dress to impress.” Tickets are $30 at the door.
“Juneteenth is just as culturally significant as the Fourth of July,” added McKeesport Councilwoman Jessica Johnson. “Juneteenth is Freedom Day for African Americans.”
She agreed this year’s celebration will be different as the city and NAACP are working in collaboration for the whole week of festivities. “It’s long overdue.”
She said events are inclusive and a good opportunity for residents to “hang out with each other.”
“Expanding through the whole weekend is important,” said Maglicco.
On Saturday, the fifth annual “Stop the Violence” kickball tournament and community day will be held at the Long and Schettino Fields on Eden Park Boulevard. Sponsored in part by Maglicco and Allen “Come Get” Wright, the tourney is a family friendly exercise. In addition to the free kickball event that begins at 11 a.m., there will be food vendors, ice cream, face painting, a water park and bounce houses.
Also Saturday, there will be Juneteenth in the Park concerts at the Lions Bandshell at Renzie featuring Big Jus and the Steeltown Horns, with special guests D.J. Boom Bostic and Deezil Money. The concert runs from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., and admission is free.
Maglicco said a fireworks grand finale will top off that day.
On Sunday, the NAACP will host a community church service and Voters Rights Day in the Park from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at pavilion No. 2 at Renzie Park.
Kirby said it’s a great opportunity for the McKeesport NAACP to extend an olive branch of sorts to other communities, especially those that used to have chapters of the organization. She said Pittsburgh is the only other city in Allegheny County that puts tremendous effort to honor Juneteenth.
“It’s a good way to connect and come together with recreation and fellowship,” added Maglicco.
Sponsored in part by state Rep. Dan Goughnour, state Sen. Nick Pisciottano and Steel Center for Career and Technical Education, the three-day happening will also feature voting drive initiatives.
