Topeka Family & Friends’ “Freedom Day” Parade & Car Show
Topeka is buzzing today with its annual Juneteenth Parade & Car Show—part of the Topeka Family & Friends Juneteenth Celebration. The parade kicks off at 11 AM from the Kansas Judicial Center parking lot and proceeds along SW 10th, Jackson, 7th, and Harrison Streets. It’s a vibrant display of community pride and historical homage—and it’s absolutely free to attend
Local media note the parade and car show as centerpiece events of the community’s festivities. The lineup begins at 11 a.m., with classic cars, floats, and community groups set to sweep through downtown Topeka . Beyond today, the celebration continues with a “Pop ’n Paint” family art night (June 16), Taco Tuesday (June 17), a kids’ celebration on the actual Juneteenth day (June 19), and a Gospel Extravaganza on June 22.
This marks the 12th year for Topeka Family & Friends, a local nonprofit dedicated to celebrating Black heritage and culture. Their extended event series blends arts, faith, food, and reflection—creating a full, city-wide commemoration.
The Origins of Juneteenth
The 1865 Proclamation
Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas—two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation—and issued General Order No. 3, declaring emancipation and pledging “absolute equality” for enslaved Texans. This date marks the legal end of slavery for the approximately 250,000 enslaved people still held in Texas .
The First Celebrations
The first observance—then known as “Jubilee Day”—was held on June 19, 1866 in Galveston, focusing on prayer services, communal gatherings, and a determination to educate and uplift newly freed African Americans.
Spread Beyond Texas
By the early 20th century, Juneteenth celebrations began spreading beyond Texas, often centering on food festivals, speeches, historic readings, music, and voter education—set against a backdrop of rising Jim Crow restrictions.
Revival in the 1970s–1980s
Revived in the Civil Rights era, Juneteenth celebrations grew during the 1970s and ’80s, drawing thousands to community parks and events. Texas officially made it a state holiday in 1980, then other states gradually followed. The Juneteenth flag—a new star over a burst of light—was designed in 1997 and adopted soon after.
Federal Recognition
After decades of advocacy—most notably by civil rights activist Opal Lee—Juneteenth became an official federal holiday on June 17, 2021, signed into law by President Joe Biden. It is now one of eleven U.S. federal holidays.
Traditions & Meaning
- Reading General Order No. 3: A powerful ritual across the nation.
- Red foods and drinks (such as hibiscus tea, red velvet cake, strawberry soda)—symbolizing resilience, sacrifice, and life.
- Communal gatherings: Parades, family reunions, cookouts, gospel concerts, education booths, and voter registration efforts.
- Reflection and education: Many events include panels, church services, and historic reenactments—honoring Black history and ongoing struggles.
Why This Matters
Juneteenth is more than a historical marker—it’s a celebration of freedom, resilience, and cultural identity. As the nation expands its observance, days like today’s Topeka parade help ensure that the stories and struggles of the past are honored and carried forward into collective memory and action.
Topeka’s community parade and car show today is living history in motion. Hope to see you there—and “Happy Juneteenth” from all of us!
