Kutt'N'Up finishes a powerful dance number before an enthusiastic crowd during the annual Juneteenth Freedom Fest at Jimi Hendrix Park. (Photo: Susan Fried)

PHOTO ESSAY | Juneteenth 2024 With Africatown Community Land Trust and King County Equity Now

Three years after Juneteenth became an official national holiday, Jimi Hendrix Park was filled with thousands of people celebrating with friends and family last Wednesday, June 19.

Published on:

Jun 24, 2024, 10:54 pm

by Susan Fried

Three years after Juneteenth became an official national holiday, Jimi Hendrix Park was filled with thousands of people celebrating with friends and family last Wednesday, June 19. The annual celebration of Black freedom was hosted by King County Equity Now (KCEN) and Africatown Community Land Trust (ACLT) as part of ACLT's Summer of Soul events and featured over a hundred vendors selling everything from arts and crafts, clothes, jewelry, and, of course, a variety of delicious food. There were also performances by more than a dozen local artists.

On what turned out to be a perfect June day, people wandered through the park checking out the vendors, eating the delicious food, listening to music, and enjoying the performances. There were numerous activities for children and adults, including bounce houses, an art station, and horseback riding courtesy of the Buffalo Soldiers. Nearby, the Northwest African American Museum was having its own Juneteenth roller-skating party.

The celebration lasted all day, ending with a performance by local artist J. Holiday.

A Black woman with braided hair in a top bun speaks into a microphone on an outdoor stage. She wears a colorful off-shoulder dress with bold patterns and white cat-eye sunglasses. The background includes metal stage scaffolding and a large sign with partial text.

Master of Ceremonies Trae Holiday introduces the next act on the Africatown Land Trust stage during the Juneteenth Freedom Fest in Jimi Hendrix Park on June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Two hairstylists braid hair under a tent at an outdoor event. One stylist braids a seated woman's hair, while the other works on a young girl's hair. The tent has a banner reading

People have their hair worked on at the I AM Loc Shop tent, one of the 100+ vendors at the annual Juneteenth Freedom Fest in Jimi Hendrix Park on June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

People roller skate at a Juneteenth celebration. A young woman in a crop top and shorts skates with one arm raised, while an older woman in a blue shirt and helmet skates nearby. The background features colorful graffiti and a banner reading

Roller skaters at the Northwest African American Museum's annual Juneteenth Skate Party in Judkins Park. NAAM's event was happening at the same time as the Africatown Community Land Trust and King County Equity Now Juneteenth Freedom Fest at Jimi Hendrix Park. (Photo: Susan Fried)

A marketplace booth displays colorful clothing and headwraps. Mannequin heads with various headwrap styles are showcased on a table with purple cloth. Two women behind the table converse, while shoppers browse nearby.

Vendors selling everything from clothes, jewelry, shoes, art, and food filled Jimi Hendrix Park for the annual Juneteenth Freedom Fest on June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

A young Black girl in an orange shirt and pastel-colored tutu sings into a microphone on stage at a

Skye Dior performed during the annual Juneteenth Freedom Fest at Jimi Hendrix Park, June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

A young Black-presenting girl in a pink shirt with flower prints paints on a small canvas at an outdoor art station. She holds a paintbrush and focuses intently on her work. Art supplies, including brushes and paint containers, are spread on the table.

Lauren, 5, paints a picture at an art station set up by the Canvas of Hope Foundation. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Children play inside a green and yellow bounce house at an outdoor event. Some kids are visible through the mesh window, while others wait outside. One child climbs in, and others inside jump and play.

Children play in a bounce house during the Juneteenth festivities on June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Three Black-presenting men stand with arms crossed, posing and smiling at an outdoor event. They are surrounded by a crowd, with tents and booths visible in the background, including one with a banner reading

Three friends pose for a photo during the annual Juneteenth Freedom Fest at Jimi Hendrix Park, June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Two performers sing into microphones on an outdoor stage, engaging with the audience. One performer wears a black tank top, sunglasses, and a cap, while the other sports a pink hoodie and denim shorts. Colorful stage lights and a

Unapologetically Jason performs during the annual Juneteenth Freedom Fest at Jimi Hendrix Park. More than 15 acts performed during the event on June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Three performers on an outdoor stage engage the audience energetically. The central figure, in an orange dashiki, kneels with a raised fist while holding a microphone. The other two wear stylish outfits and hold microphones. The stage features banners for

Ambient Village performs during the annual Juneteenth Freedom Fest at Jimi Hendrix Park. More than 15 acts performed during the event, June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

A large crowd gathers at an outdoor event, enjoying the festivities under a clear blue sky. People of all ages and styles mingle, some dancing, others chatting or taking photos. Tents and vendor booths are visible in the background.

The crowd dances during the annual Juneteenth Freedom Fest in Jimi Hendrix Park, June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

A dance group performs energetically on an outdoor stage, wearing camo jackets and black outfits. They strike dynamic poses under colorful stage lights. The backdrop features banners for

One of Seattle's favorite dance groups Kutt'N'Up performs an original piece during the Juneteenth Freedom Fest in Jimi Hendrix Park, June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Two Black men dressed in historical military attire ride horses at an outdoor event. One rides a black horse carrying a Juneteenth flag, and the other rides a white horse, waving and smiling at the camera. A crowd of people watches in the background under a clear blue sky.

The Buffalo Soldiers ride through Jimi Hendrix Park during the Juneteenth Freedom Fest, June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

An outdoor market booth displays a variety of colorful woven baskets, hats, textiles, and drums under a white canopy. Shoppers browse the items, with one man examining a basket. Other booths and tents are visible in the background under a clear blue sky.

Over a hundred vendors sold their products at the annual Juneteenth Freedom Fest in Jimi Hendrix Park, June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

A young girl in a pink dress smiles and hugs two younger sisters who wear matching dresses with watermelon patterns. They are outdoors on a sunny day with a clear blue sky. People and event tents are visible in the background.

Sisters Juniper and Zerina, 3, and their older sister Charlotte, 9, pose for a photo at Jimi Hendrix Park on Juneteenth, June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

A Black man wearing sunglasses holds a small dog with a pink harness at an outdoor event. The man has a serious expression and wears a dark, patterned shirt. The background shows blurred people, a blue tent, and a building.

A man carries his tired dog through Jimi Hendrix Park during the annual Juneteenth Freedom Fest. People brought their dogs and children to the park to celebrate the national holiday, June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Susan Fried is a 40-year veteran photographer. Her early career included weddings, portraits, and commercial work — plus, she's been The Skanner News' Seattle photographer for 25 years. Her images have appeared in the University of Washington's The Daily, The Seattle Globalist, Crosscut, and many more.She's been an Emerald contributor since 2015. Follow her on Instagram @fried.susan.

📸 Featured Image: Kutt'N'Up finishes a powerful dance number before an enthusiastic crowd during the annual Juneteenth Freedom Fest at Jimi Hendrix Park, June 19, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Before you move on to the next story …

The South Seattle Emerald™ is brought to you by Rainmakers. Rainmakers give recurring gifts at any amount. With around 1,000 Rainmakers, the Emerald™ is truly community-driven local media. Help us keep BIPOC-led media free and accessible.

If just half of our readers signed up to give $6 a month, we wouldn't have to fundraise for the rest of the year. Small amounts make a difference.

We cannot do this work without you. Become a Rainmaker today!

Featured