Thousands of St. Louisans celebrated Juneteenth across the region, but few events matched the size and energy of the sixth annual Juneteenth STL Parade and Festival, which filled blocks of West Florissant Avenue in Dellwood on June 19.
Marching bands, dance teams, civic organizations and local businesses moved through the parade route as crowds lined the streets. Families unfolded lawn chairs, children chased bubbles and foam, and festival-goers cheered performers and parade participants throughout the day.
The event, presented by Bridge the Gap 314 and the city of Dellwood, drew residents from across the region.
“It’s really blossoming into one of the main attractions of Juneteenth in the St. Louis region,” Dellwood Mayor Reggie Jones said. “It’s turned into a big deal for not just St. Louis.”
“I come every year, and this is the biggest one I’ve seen,” said Serena Muhammad, a Dellwood resident.
Several attendees compared the festival’s scale to the historic Annie Malone May Day Parade.
This year marked the first time nationally known artists headlined the festival. Billboard-charting artist Young Joc and blues singer Pokey Bear topped a performance lineup that also included Slow Spread Love, Asiaa Marie and the Chaz45 Band.
“It was beautiful. Everybody came out,” said Devonte Miller of Florissant. “My daughter performed in the parade. Good times, good vibes. I’m glad we had it.”
After the parade, attendees shopped with vendors selling jewelry, eyewear, footwear and apparel. Children enjoyed a foam party, giant inflatables and a mobile petting zoo while adults gathered around food vendors and music stages.
One attraction featured an expanded museum collection highlighting the history of St. Louis public high schools and notable alumni.
“It’s really interactive,” said Twyla Lee, founder of Bridge the Gap 314. “A day of community where people can come out with their lawn chairs and listen to great music, the kids can run around and play.”
For many attendees, however, Juneteenth was about more than entertainment.
“I know what Juneteenth really means. It’s not just another holiday,” said Dellwood resident Laverene Mahoney, who recalled working in cotton fields alongside her five siblings when she was 5 years old.
“I know about the plantations, all of that. So the fact that we’re able to celebrate it in such a great way in the city of Dellwood, I’m grateful for that. I’m grateful for all the effort that’s put into it.”
Like many returning attendees, Mahoney said she looks forward to the celebration every year.
“Oh, when I tell you it’s off the chain, it’s off the chain,” she said.
Jones said interest in the event has continued to grow since Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021.
“Since it became a national holiday, we’ve increased the effect, the attention to it, and even added more activities not just entertainment-wise, but educational-wise too,” Jones said.
The festival traces its origins to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lee said she organized the first event in 2020 while working as a classroom teacher during a period of remote learning.
“I was a classroom teacher at that time, and it was online learning, and the kids weren’t logging on. And I was getting bored,” Lee said. “I was like, ‘What are we going to do?’”
She envisioned a safe outdoor gathering where families could connect, receive vaccinations and support efforts to return students to in-person learning. The event continued after those goals were met, eventually becoming an annual partnership with Dellwood.
“One of the things I appreciate most about this event is that it brings the community together,” said Gwendolyn Artist, Dellwood’s 3rd Ward alderwoman. “I love to see everybody out here enjoying themselves — the children, the parents, the older folks. All of us. And we love what’s going on.”
For Artist, the celebration serves as both a commemoration and a reminder of the work that remains.
“A lot of things that we know now, we did not know,” Artist said. “And since we do know a little bit better, we’re doing better.”
A fireworks show closed the evening, celebrating Black culture, history and community while reflecting on the continuing pursuit of freedom.
“And I’m glad, finally, we are free-ish,” Artist said.