2016 Folsom Juneteenth Celebrates "Roots" at Negro Bar California State Park

A local Juneteenth event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday, June 25 at Negro Bar California State Park and at the Historic Folsom Railroad Block, celebrating our “Roots” keeping Folsom Juneteenth ~ an American tradition celebrating freedom alive.

All cultures are invited to come experience Juneteenth exhibits, music, poetry and speakers who emphasize the pivotal role that people of African ancestry played during the early days of the State of California.

Folsom Juneteenth provides a unique opportunity to showcase the essential link between the strength of an extensive story of California Gold Rush pioneers of African ancestry and the broader fight for freedom while preserving the union throughout the United States.

"One of the largest black Gold Rush communities in the region was located at Negro Bar in Folsom," according to Joe Moore, creator of Juneteenth Folsom Celebrations, "While the initial African American presence at Negro Bar was not lengthy, it has the distinction of being the site where gold was first discovered in Northern California by African Americans in 1849."

The late Joe Moore, survived by his wife, California State University, Sacramento retired history professor Shirley Moore. Together that created local programs that celebrate African pioneers of the Gold Rush era and the contributions they made to the development of the Sacramento Region.

"Negro Bar State Park is extremely important and has the opportunity to share broader contributions by people of African ancestry during the California Gold Rush and US Civil War. Researching, documenting and preserving our authentic journey towards freedom in early California and the profound impact that freedom had upon the entire United States of America remains a regional challenge, says Michael Harris, 2016 Folsom Juneteenth Coordinator.

Juneteenth takes its name from the historic celebration that took place at the end of the US Civil War, June 1865, at the final Confederate controlled military stronghold, Galveston Port, Texas.

Thousands of US Colored Troops, led by General Gordon Grainger, were ordered to Texas in June of 1865 to begin a 7 week military campaign throughout Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation and secure the border with Mexico.

Today, Juneteenth celebrations of freedom are held throughout the country to commemorate our unique chapter in the American journey towards freedom.

2016 Folsom Juneteenth is a free event and will include several family friendly activities, open mic for poets, a US Colored Troops presentation, historical lectures and more.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own picnic lunches and portable BBQ grills, no alcohol or glass containers are permitted in Negro Bar State Park.

For more information about the 2016 Folsom Juneteenth event call (916) 997-2451

Directions: From Sacramento take Highway 50 east to Folsom. Exit Folsom Blvd. and turn left. Proceed approximately three miles to Greenback Road and turn left and there is a sign marking the entrance to Negro Bar on the left.