The NAACP Lake Elsinore Branch will host its second annual Juneteenth Celebration on June 19 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Diamond Stadium, 500 Diamond Drive.
Admissions is $8 for adults and free for children 12 and younger. The event will feature live entertainment, music, vendors and networking opportunities. Family-friendly activities, including face painting, will also be set up throughout the event.
Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and is recognized as a celebration of freedom and African American history. Organizers aim to bring the community together around Juneteenth’s message of freedom and unity, according to Lauren Venerable, communications and fundraising chair for the NAACP Lake Elsinore Branch.
“It’s important that we continue to honor the legacy of being free,” Venerable said. “It’s about inclusion for all of us and unity.”
Venerable said last year’s inaugural celebration drew about 1,200 people and helped establish what the organization hopes will become a growing annual tradition.
“Last year, everybody enjoyed it. Everyone had a good time,” she said. “People actually stayed longer. It was over at 9, but we had a DJ going, and everyone was still networking and shopping with our vendors.”
This year’s event is expected to be larger, with about 55 vendors planned and expanded space at the stadium to accommodate the crowd.
“We’re super excited that the city of Lake Elsinore is supporting us as well, and we look forward to it being even more successful,” Venerable said.
Venerable said networking remains a major focus of the event. Attendees are encouraged to bring business cards and connect with local entrepreneurs and organizations.
“What inspired the networking event is our economy,” she said. “Everybody is looking to expand themselves financially. It’s really important for entrepreneurs to have a space where they can network with like-minded individuals and connect with their community.”
Organizers hope attendees leave with both a sense of celebration and a better understanding of the NAACP’s work in the community.
More information is available through the NAACP Lake Elsinore Branch website. Tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the door.
