Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade and festival celebrates freedom and community

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade and Festival brought thousands to West Philadelphia for a day honoring freedom, history and community.

The parade traveled from 52nd & Parkside on Sunday before ending at Malcolm X Park, where festival activities continued throughout the afternoon.

"We purposely have it on 52nd Street so that we can put money back into the community, so we try to make sure a lot of the people that are in the parade are from West Philly," said Sonni Graham, Executive Producer of the Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade.

The parade was hosted by Action News anchors Rick Williams and Tamala Edwards, along with radio personality Gary Shepherd. The event was broadcast live on 6ABC, the event's exclusive sponsor. 6ABC sponsored the Avenging the Ancestors float.

"We're celebrating true freedom day. The enslaved Africans in Texas didn't find out that the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed 2 in a half years prior," said Gary Shepherd.

Dancers, marching groups, and drum lines filled the parade route. West Philadelphia native DJ Jazzy Jeff served as grand marshal.

"This is amazing. This area pretty much is where I cut my teeth," DJ Jazzy Jeff said.

At Malcolm X Park, festivalgoers gathered among vendors and activities as the smell of barbecue filled the air.

"Each year I come out here, it's more vendors, more people, the parade is long, and they have more activities for the children," said Vera Harper of Southwest Philadelphia.

Mayor Cherelle Parker said the celebration highlighted the resilience of the community.

"If we could just hold onto that resilience and grit and innovation, there is nothing that we cannot accomplish together," Parker said.