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Dozens of cars lined the streets around Taylor Park Saturday afternoon as the village took to the streets to begin its Juneteenth festivities.

In 2020, Oak Park officially recognized Juneteenth as a village holiday, and organizers held a car caravan that traveled around the village’s perimeter.

Cars return to Taylor Park after their parade through Oak Park to celebrate the Juneteenth holiday the evening of June 19.
Cars return to Taylor Park after their parade through Oak Park to celebrate the Juneteenth holiday the evening of June 19.

This year, organizers, with village assistance, again held a car caravan event, which began and ended at Taylor Park, 400 Division St. Participants decorated their cars in red, black and green to mark the occasion, and flew Juneteenth flags as they circled various village streets before returning to the park for a community picnic.

At the park, attendees enjoyed live music, food and speeches from local officials, who discussed the importance of the day and their efforts to make it an official holiday in the village of Oak Park.

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Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when a U.S. Army general read orders in Galveston, Texas, that all previously enslaved people were free.

Although the Emancipation Proclamation had formally freed them almost two-and-a-half years earlier, and the American Civil War had largely ended with the defeat of the Confederate States in April. Texas was the most remote of the slave states. With a low presence of Union troops, enforcement of the proclamation had been slow and inconsistent.

Virginia Bloom dances with her son Thomas Scheirer at the Juneteenth picnic at Taylor Park in Oak Park the evening of June 19.
Virginia Bloom dances with her son Thomas Scheirer at the Juneteenth picnic at Taylor Park in Oak Park the evening of June 19.

Earlier this year, the village board passed a resolution in recognition of Juneteenth, and village officials held a flag-raising ceremony to commemorate the holiday at Village Hall.

Mark Welch and Harman Hall find relief under a tree during the Juneteenth picnic at Taylor Park in Oak Park the evening of June 19.
Mark Welch and Harman Hall find relief under a tree during the Juneteenth picnic at Taylor Park in Oak Park the evening of June 19.
Cambria McAfee of Galewood watches the musical group Amen Snake perform at the Juneteenth picnic at Taylor Park in Oak Park the evening of June 19.
Cambria McAfee of Galewood watches the musical group Amen Snake perform at the Juneteenth picnic at Taylor Park in Oak Park the evening of June 19.
With the warm weather, Tanya White offers sweet tea to her son Devin during the Juneteenth picnic at Taylor Park in Oak Park the evening of June 19.
With the warm weather, Tanya White offers sweet tea to her son Devin during the Juneteenth picnic at Taylor Park in Oak Park the evening of June 19.
Carl Spieght lets Cora Jenkins of Oak Park join him during his musical performance at the Juneteenth picnic at Taylor Park in Oak Park June 19.
Carl Spieght lets Cora Jenkins of Oak Park join him during his musical performance at the Juneteenth picnic at Taylor Park in Oak Park June 19.
Laurel White waits to be served during the Juneteenth community picnic at Taylor Park in Oak Park the evening of June 19.
Laurel White waits to be served during the Juneteenth community picnic at Taylor Park in Oak Park the evening of June 19.
Attendees enjoy the Juneteenth picnic at Taylor Park in Oak Park the evening of June 19.
Attendees enjoy the Juneteenth picnic at Taylor Park in Oak Park the evening of June 19.

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