DENHAM SPRINGS — Denham Springs honored Juneteenth this past week with a series of events celebrating African American history, community unity, and the legacy of emancipation. The commemoration included a formal program at the Lockhart Park gym on June 19 and the city’s second annual Juneteenth Freedom Celebration Parade and “Pack the Park” family festival on Saturday, June 21.
Annual Juneteenth Community Celebration
Juneteenth observances began Wednesday evening with the Annual Juneteenth Community Celebration, hosted at the L.M. Lockhart Park gym. The event drew local residents and civic leaders for an evening of reflection, celebration, and recognition.
Louisiana Supreme Court Justice John Michael Guidry delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the legal and moral significance of Juneteenth and its connection to ongoing efforts for justice and equality. He was joined by Livingston Parish President Randy Delatte and Denham Springs Mayor Gerard Landry, both of whom spoke about the importance of honoring history and promoting unity across the community.
Local faith leaders — Pastor Derrick Shavers, Rev. Arthur Gilmore, Pastor Debra Keller, and Pastor Adolphus White — offered prayers and reflections, grounding the event in both historical remembrance and spiritual perspective.
Youth performers from Camp Empowerment provided musical and dramatic performances, while the Arts Council of Livingston Parish delivered a tribute to the late Mrs. Sarah Riley Scott, a longtime advocate for youth and community enrichment. In her honor, the Sarah Riley Scott Legacy Awards were presented by Mr. Ray Riley to outstanding Camp Empowerment members. Mr. Daniel Landry also recognized youth honorees with the Daniel Landry Legacy Awards.
The event was organized by Camp Empowerment and the West Livingston Advisory Committee. Refreshments were provided by Yellow Brick House.
Juneteenth Parade and “Pack the Park” Festival
On Saturday, June 21, the celebration continued with the second annual Juneteenth Freedom Celebration Parade, organized by the Livingston Parish Ministers Alliance. The parade began at Denham Springs High School and made its way down Range Avenue to Veterans Boulevard, featuring community leaders, church groups, decorated floats, marching bands, and musical performances.
After the parade, families gathered at Lockhart Park for the “Pack the Park” festival, which offered children’s games, water activities, local food vendors, live entertainment, and art displays. The festival blended fun with education, highlighting the cultural and historical importance of Juneteenth through accessible, family-friendly programming.
A Day Rooted in History
Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed the last enslaved African Americans that they were free — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued. Widely celebrated as the symbolic end of slavery in the United States, Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021.
A Growing Local Tradition
Denham Springs’ Juneteenth events have quickly become a meaningful annual tradition in the city’s civic life. Organizers say they plan to build on this year’s success by expanding educational outreach, cultural programming, and youth engagement in the years to come.
Together, the community’s June 19 and June 21 events blended historical remembrance with joyful celebration — reinforcing the message that freedom, unity, and reflection are worth honoring year after year.
