On Sunday, June 16, Malcolm X Park in West Philadelphia served as the location of one of the nation’s largest Juneteenth celebrations, writes Vik Raghupathi for KYW Newsradio.

This year’s annual parade and festival featured about two dozen floats, with Mayor Cherelle Parker serving as grand marshal.

The gathering featured more than 250 local vendors, makers and artists offering food, crafts, clothes, games, and live music.

Juneteenth commemorates the day in history in which the Emancipation Proclamation was finally implemented to include all formerly enslaved Americans — June 19, 1865 — two-and-a-half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed it.

While the origin is quite solemn, Willow Grove resident Simone Washington sees the holiday as a joyous one.

“A lot of times we just associate Blackness with slavery as trauma, but I think today really gives us an opportunity to celebrate ourselves,” she said. “To me, it’s really about liberation. It’s about celebrating Black history. It’s about celebrating Black people and our culture and our music and our food. I think it’s really an incredible opportunity to just celebrate all Blackness and what that encompasses.”

Philadelphia held its first Juneteenth parade in 2016. Three years later, former Governor Tom Wolf declared it a state holiday.

In 2021, Juneteenth was officially declared a federal holiday.

Read more about how the annual Juneteenth Parade celebrates Blackness in KYW Newsradio.

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