By Darrel Wheeler, Contributing Writer
Last Saturday, June 15th, a whole bunch of Juneteenth celebrators celebrated the best way they knew how at the annual Cooper Family Foundation’s Juneteenth Festival. Memorial Park on Ocean View Boulevard was the destination for a good time, entertainment, and historical-information seekers.
The special festival day at the park has become a one-stop-shop for all questions related to who, what, when, where, and why concerning the “Juneteenth Healing the Community: Know the Past, Shape the Future” celebration.
The Cooper Family, once again, provided a safe enjoyable atmosphere for the huge crowd of folks representing an awesome display of power by the people.
The crowd was treated to some live entertainment featuring the legendary “It’s All the Way Live” by funk band Lakeside. A variety of performers graced the Juneteenth stages, expressing how they feel about the day’s celebration of culture and music.
Lakeside’s original band member, Fred Alexander Jr., said, “This was a wonderful thing. I loved the atmosphere here. People were partying, the camaraderie was obvious, and people were just having a good time. We would love to come back here again.”
Free food was also provided by the Cooper Family and their friends. Over a hundred vendors filled the park with a combination of resources and seller’s booths. The big family-friendly celebration looked, sounded, and felt like a good time and that’s exactly what it was.
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