Denver Juneteenth Festival Kicks Off With Five Points Parade | Westword
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Juneteenth Celebration Begins With a Parade, Continues With Music Festival in Five Points Today

Decades before June 19 became a national holiday, Denver had its own unofficial celebration.
Parade participant waves.
Parade participant waves. Photography by Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
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Decades before it became a national holiday, Five Points celebrated Juneteenth, the day in 1865 when slaves in Texas learned that they had been freed two years earlier by the Emancipation Proclamation.

In 2024, the Juneteenth Music Festival activities include music all day on June 16. The festivities started with a parade on June 15; photographer Brandon Johnson was there to catch the kickoff.

Keep reading for a look at Juneteenth.

click to enlarge Juneteenth parade
The 2024 parade.
Photography by Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
click to enlarge woman in parade
Photography by Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
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Participants in the 2024 Juneteenth parade.
Photography by Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
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Bikers in the 2024 Juneteenth parade.
Photography by Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)

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Participants in the 2024 Juneteenth parade.
Photography by Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
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The Juneteenth parade.
Photography by Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
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The Juneteenth parade.
Photography by Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
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Parade watchers celebrated Juneteenth, too.
Photography by Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
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Community groups in the Juneteenth parade.
Photography by Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
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The Juneteenth parade.
Photography by Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
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The Juneteenth parade.
Photography by Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
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The Juneteenth parade.
Photography by Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
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More parade participants.
Photography by Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
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Denver Public Schools participated in the parade.
Photography by Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)

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Watching the Juneteenth parade.
Photography by Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
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Young parade participant.
Photography by Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)

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A family at the Juneteenth parade.
Photography by Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
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Juneteenth Music Festival vendors.
Photography by Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
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Community groups take part in the Juneteenth parade.
Photography by Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
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The Juneteenth festivities continue June 16.
Photography by Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)

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Watching the Juneteenth parade.
Photography by Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
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