Holiday
Iowa
The Iowa Juneteenth Observance established its roots
in 1990 at Good Park in Des Moines. The first observance grew from a
one-day/ one-location event that drew around 50 people to a
week-long/ multiple-site event drawing approximately 10,000 people
in 2009. The official state observance is on the third Saturday of
June at Evelyn K. Davis Park in Des Moines, which is designated as
“Neighbors Day” and is the largest observance in the state.
The Iowa Juneteenth Observance Founder &
General Chairperson, Gary Lawson, spearheaded efforts in the state
legislature to officially recognize the historical legitimacy of
Juneteenth. The Iowa General Assembly responded in 2002 by passing
the Juneteenth National Freedom Day legislation authorizing and
encouraging Iowans to celebrate Juneteenth annually on the third
Saturday of June.
Governor Tom Vilsack signed the
legislation, making Juneteenth an official holiday, in a special
ceremony attended by Iowa Juneteenth Observance committee members,
volunteers, supporters, legislators, and government officials on
April 11, 2002.
The cities of Burlington, Cedar Rapids,
Clinton, Davenport, and Waterloo also hold local Juneteenth
observances and with the Iowa Juneteenth Observance, make the
largest African American produced event in the state.
