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PHOTO GALLERY: Families, kids, entrepreneurs celebrate Juneteenth at Riverfront

Omega Mathews, left, and Vixie Jenkins, right, from The Quenching Splash, serve drinks at the Juneteenth festival in Riverfront Park on Friday, June 19.(HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)

Music, food, dance and community brought dozens of people to Riverfront Park Friday afternoon for a lively Juneteenth celebration

Juneteenth recognizes Black Americans’ freedom and resilience, and commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. While it was long-celebrated throughout the country, June 19 became a federal holiday in 2021 under then-President Joe Biden. 

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The festival, hosted by Salem-Keizer NAACP, had bouncy houses and games for kids, a free community meal, live entertainment and vendor booths.

Rows of local businesses and community organizations lined up on the grass, along with food stands serving everything from cotton candy to barbecue. People danced to music spun by DJs all day, enjoyed live performances, browsed vendor tents and shared meals with neighbors.

Katy Voves applies a temporary tattoo for a girl at the Havenrose Real Estate booth. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)
Synia Bieghler paints a Black couple in love. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)
Samuel Madison raises a fist as a singer performs at the festival. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)
People visit vendor booths at the festival. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)
Library volunteer Gretchen Coppedge chats with a child making a beaded necklace. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)
Adonus Gillett holds Alora, 6 months, while perusing booths at the festival. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)
Kharis Turner, owner of The Charcuterie Experience, arranges treats at her booth at the festival. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)
Volunteer Alex Blevins serves free hot dogs to people at the festival. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)
From the left: Zachariah, 1, Unami, 2, and Divine, 10, chat at the festival. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)
H. Watson, 7, enjoys cotton candy. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)
Rian Gayle laughs with his kids at the festival. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)
Salem Fire Cheif David Gerboth greets vendors at their booths. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)
Unami, 2, sings a solo with the Seeds of Promise children’s choir. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)
A sign welcomes people to the Juneteenth festival. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)
Kim Waiters dances at the festival. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)
A kid prepares to shoot a basketball. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)
Immanuel Rhoden, 15, gets food from a food truck. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)

Have a news tip? Contact reporter Hailey Cook: [email protected] .

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Hailey Cook joined Salem Reporter in 2025, following the completion of an internship through the University of Oregon’s Charles Snowden Program for Excellence in Journalism. She works as a reporter and photojournalist, with a focus on business and entertainment, among other topics.

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