History comes alive this Saturday at Folsom Lions Park, where the community will gather to celebrate 25 years of Juneteenth in a powerful tribute to California’s overlooked pioneers. This milestone event sheds light on the “hidden heroes” who shaped the Golden State—African American soldiers, Native American families, and early Pan-African settlers whose legacies helped define a more inclusive history of freedom.
Coinciding with California’s 175th anniversary of statehood, this year’s celebration dives deep into stories long left out of textbooks. From the contributions of nearly 2,000 U.S. Colored Troops who fought in the Civil War, to the legacy of William Alexander Leidesdorff, a biracial pioneer who pledged to honor Indigenous communities on his Mexican land grant, the event brings new attention to the state’s untold truths.
Families will engage in hands-on learning through storytelling and oral traditions, connecting past, present, and future generations. Activities will spotlight the disrupted Tribal communities during the 1848 Gold Rush and inspire reflection on how their histories—and those of African American Californians—remain vital to understanding the state’s foundation.
Juneteenth’s significance continues to grow nationwide, and organizers hope Folsom will follow Sacramento County’s lead in formally adopting it as a paid holiday. The event also underscores ongoing efforts to preserve local heritage through tools like the 1906 U.S. Antiquities Act, protecting sites tied to the Gold Rush era within the Folsom Lake Recreation District.
The 25th Annual Folsom Juneteenth Celebration takes place Saturday, June 7, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Folsom Lions Park, located at 403 Stafford Street. Admission is free, and all are invited to experience this living journey from slavery to freedom—one that continues to shape California’s true story.
June 28th event returns to Black Miners Bar
Later this month, the spirit of Juneteenth continues with a lakeside tribute at Historic Black Miners Bar, located at 7755 Folsom-Auburn Road. This free community gathering honors the courageous Black pioneers who, in 1849, built one of California’s earliest Black communities at the site. It also marks the third anniversary of the area’s renaming from “Negro Bar” to “Black Miners Bar”—a step forward in preserving and honoring the legacy of those who helped shape California’s history.
The celebration will feature a vibrant blend of cultural and recreational experiences, including a live concert, drumming, educational exhibits, and a beer and wine garden, along with food vendors, horseback riding, a kids zone and petting zoo, kayaking, and shopping. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and settle in for a lakeside evening filled with music, community, and reflection.
The Black Miners Bar Juneteenth Festival will be held Saturday, June 28, from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. More information can be found at JuneteenthFolsom.org.
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