Posted: 06/12/2014 12:01:00 AM MDT
Updated: 06/12/2014 06:24:44 PM MDT
With goals of galvanizing Colorado and its communities, organizers of Denver's Juneteenth Music Festival are focusing this weekend's celebration efforts on health awareness and green activism.
The multi-faceted event, located at the intersection of Welton and 27th streets, pays homage to the anniversary of June 19, 1865 - the date Texas slaves learned of their freedom - with a variety of activities. A live concert, battle of the bands, parade, pageant, health-and-wellness dome and awards ceremony are included in the festival, which runs Friday and Saturday.
Norman Harris, executive director, said that new to this year's festival is an environmental bent that he sees as being integral to the organization's longstanding ideals of justice and togetherness.
'We have already incorporated literal freedom from bondage [into our celebration], but now we also have energy and health freedom,' Harris says, citing partnerships this year with such groups as 350 Denver and Green For All.
'This is really a community-driven project and community-driven event, and it's important for everyone, regardless of who you are.'
At a Green For All-led awards ceremony Saturday, local and national activists will be honored for their ecological and social efforts, and a panel will discuss such issues as climate and pollution.
Green For All's Executive Director Nikki Silvestri said she saw logical comparisons between the Civil War-era institution of slavery and some of the harmful environmental practices going on in major U.S. cities.
'Detangling from our current oil dependence would be as intense as detangling from the industry of slavery,' she said.
At the health-and-wellness dome, attendees will be able to get advice from healthcare organizations. Harris has created a health passport - a la the Denver Nautral History Museum - to encourage participants to visit as many wellness kiosks as possible, a move he hopes will better inform Coloradans on how to lead healthier lifestyles.
'My goal with the festival, when I look at it, is it should be celebrated the way we approach St. Patrick's Day or Cinco de Mayo,' he said. 'They should come with the idea of having a good time and celebrating our history and preparing for the future.'
Here's the roster of other events happening during Denver's Juneteenth Music Festival:
Friday
Miss Juneteenth Music Festival Pageant: Doors open for the Miss JMF pageant at 5 p.m. at The Crossroads Theater.
Kick-Off Party: The celebration begins at Tony P's on E. 17th Avenue at 8 p.m.
Saturday
Parade and Float Competition: Mayor Michael Hancock will lead Juneteenth's annual parade, which commences at 10 a.m. at Manual High School.
Art Walk: Spread across three blocks of Welton Street, a variety of artists will showcase their work from noon to 6 p.m.
Keep it Fresh: The awards ceremony begins at 6 p.m., and a 'Keep It Fresh' zone - featuring yoga, farmers markets, composting and recycling workshops - runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Concert: Afropean artists Les Nubians will hit the main stage at around 7 p.m.
Health-and-Wellness Dome: A flurry of kiosks will be open from around noon to 6 p.m. near Welton Street.
Youth Engagement Zone: From face-painting to bounce houses, kid-friendly acitivties will be available from noon to 6 p.m. near Welton Street.
Sean Fitz-Gerald: 303-954-1211, sfitz-gerald@denverpost.com or http://ift.tt/TQ8RWr Entities 0 Name: Denver Count: 3 1 Name: Welton Street Count: 3 2 Name: Harris Count: 2 3 Name: Les Nubians Count: 1 4 Name: Nikki Silvestri Count: 1 5 Name: Colorado Count: 1 6 Name: Denver Nautral History Museum Count: 1 7 Name: Norman Harris Count: 1 8 Name: U.S. Count: 1 9 Name: Michael Hancock Count: 1 10 Name: Sean Fitz-Gerald Count: 1 11 Name: Welton Count: 1 12 Name: Manual High School Count: 1 13 Name: Cinco de Mayo Count: 1 14 Name: Texas Count: 1 Related Keywords 0 Name: juneteenth Score: 40 1 Name: welton Score: 40 2 Name: health-and-wellness Score: 30 3 Name: festival Score: 28 4 Name: pageant Score: 23 5 Name: dome Score: 20 6 Name: denver Score: 20 7 Name: detangling Score: 20 8 Name: community-driven Score: 20 9 Name: celebration Score: 19 Authors Media Images 0
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