New Brunswick, NJ—In a public celebration of Black arts, and culture, the Vulcan Pioneers of New Brunswick’s Juneteenth Committee invites everyone to join in recognizing the 157th Anniversary of Juneteenth—a day that commemorates the end of slavery throughout the states of the Confederacy–by attending the annual Juneteenth Parade and Festival.
The Vulcans of New Brunswick are a historic organization of African American Firefighters from the New Brunswick Fire Department. They have partnered with local community groups to develop the parade and festival committee, which includes: the New Brunswick Area Branch of the NAACP, the Rutgers African-American Alumni Alliance, the New Brunswick Cultural Center, Zakee Bowser Enrichment Foundation, Sharpened Mindz and the New Brunswick African American Heritage Committee, Inc.
| Annual Juneteenth Parade & Festival (Vulcan Pioneers of New Brunswick & Partners) SATURDAY, JUNE 17th, 2023PARADE: (11 AM) Starts at the intersection of George St. & Remsen Ave., New Brunswick.FESTIVAL: (1-4 PM) Recreation Park, 7 Pine St., New Brunswick, NJ, 08901 New Brunswick Juneteenth Flag Raising & Commemoration Program With Block Party MONDAY, JUNE 19th, 2023 (Rescheduled due to predicted thunderstorms) At 3 PM there will be a Flag Raising at 75 Bayard St. then processional to 11 Livingston Avenue At 3:30 PM the commemoration program continues and culminates with a Block Party at 11 Livingston Ave. (in front of NBPAC) |
Community members of all ages are invited to “celebrate freedom,” the central theme of Juneteenth. In the lead-up to the Juneteenth weekend, celebrations abound in New Brunswick. There are special programs on community heroes such as the “Walking in His Footsteps” program on Paul Robeson, scheduled for June 9th (Starting at Rutgers Kirkpatrick Chapel, College Avenue Campus and ending with a reception at Alumni House). There is also a special spotlight program remembering local icon, William Louis Dunbar at 7 pm in the New Brunswick High School Auditorium on Thursday, June 15th.
New Brunswick Juneteenth Flag Raising & Commemoration Program With Block Party
On Monday, June 19th there will be a Juneteenth flag raising at 3 pm, The commemoration continues from 3:30 pm – 6 pm in front of the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center at 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. [UPDATED 6/14 TO REFLECT RESCHEDULING DUE TO RAIN]
Annual Juneteenth Parade & Festival (Vulcan Pioneers of New Brunswick & Partners)
The Saturday activities kick off once again with our Juneteenth Parade, starting at George Street and Remsen Avenue. The parade will include community clubs, various non-profit organizations, dancers, stilt walkers, and many others, marching from George Street and Remsen Avenue, cutting through the city until ending at Recreation Park (the edge of the Douglass Campus at 7 Pine Street). This year’s grand marshall is local icon, Ms. Maurice M. Williams.
The festival occurs at the park after the end of the parade and will feature games, face painting, raffles, various vendors, and giant inflatables.
BRING YOUR LAWN CHAIRS AND SUN UMBRELLAS AND ENJOY THE AFTERNOON
Vendors (including many food offerings!) and community groups tabling will be set up by midday in Recreation Park, with cultural performances and community presentations on the main stage from 1 PM.
There are activities areas for young children as well as for teenagers. The Zakee Bowser Enrichment Foundation and Sharpened Mindz have a number of gift certificate prizes as well as other items for the winners in a rap contest spelling bee, as well as Double Dutch competitions for parents versus youth in an old school/new school face-off. A high point of the main stage presentations will be an “old school” versus “young ‘uns” step/stroll showcase by Black fraternity members!
This year includes a special culminating celebration including “50 Years of Hip Hop” where young people from the wards of New Brunswick will cover classic hip-hop songs and then there will also be a 40-year reunion of the “EXIT 9 Band,” along with Melvin McKnight of “BLAQMEL and the PROBLEM.”
FAQS about the 2023 Juneteenth Parade and Festival
Less than 0.1 inch of rain is predicted for New Brunswick on Saturday, therefore we have decided that the events will proceed, rain or shine!
THE PARADE
- The Parade begins at 11 am from the intersection of Remsen Avenue and George Street. We will line up on Remsen Avenue between George Street and Weldon Street, and proceed to Recreation Park, located at 7 Pine Street, New Brunswick.
- Lining up for the parade. You should plan to arrive by around 10:00 am (no later than 10:30 am). Based on our experiences in past years, we will make a final determination of where to place participating groups (to be closer to the head of the parade), depending on who we see actually makes it out on Saturday morning. We will contact those who will be on the floats beforehand.
- Parking for the parade. There will marked parking lots at Recreation Park/Pine Street and the Vulcan Pioneers will be running a shuttle, from 9:30 am, between the festival grounds (the front of Recreation Park) and the start of the parade (George Street & Remsen Ave.).
- If you want to park your car at the starting point of the parade, there is on-street parking and there are several parking decks close by, however, you will then end up walking back to New Brunswick if you stay at the festival.
THE FESTIVAL
- Tabling organizations are welcome to load-in as early as 10 am and should be set up by 12 pm.
- Tabling groups (community groups and non-profits) can pull up to the front parking lot of Recreation Park (7 Pine Street) to drop off their tabling supplies, then you can drive around to the rear parking lot after unloading your supplies.
- You will find a welcome team in the front parking lot on arrival to assist you.
- Tables will be set up along the walkway connecting the front parking lot to where the main stage will be set up (in the recreation area between the basketball courts and the bathrooms).
- Vendors can load-in as early as 9 AM – Vendors should have communicated, with Vulcan Pioneers representative Robert Rawls, about their placement prior to arrival. You will find a welcome team in the front parking lot on arrival where you can reconfirm if needed. Robert Rawls and Jackie Livas will be on-site to facilitate.
- There is on-street parking around Pine Street in front of Recreation Park. There is also a parking lot in the rear of the park, where vendors can park and unload if they prefer. THERE WILL ALSO BE A RUTGERS LOT AVAILABLE NEXT TO THE PARK–Look for the signs.
- The Festival starts at approximately 12 pm although the main stage welcomes and performances will begin at 1 pm.
- There will be live music and dance performances, spoken word, giveaways, food and nonfood vendors.
- The culmination will be the “50 Years of Hip-Hop” young artists presentation and then the R&B hour featuring the Exit 9 reunion, along with Blaqmel and the Problem reunion.
- The event should run until around 4 pm.