A Juneteenth celebration will be held Friday through Sunday at the Abilene Convention Center and in Stevenson Park. All events are free.

Friday’s activities begin with a fish fry at 6 p.m., a DJ, and kick ball. Taste of Soul will perform from 6 to 8 p.m., followed by Basic Truth 8-9 p.m. The band, “Soulful Sounds” will be in concert 9 p.m. to midnight.

Saturday will be a full day, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Convention Center, 1100 N. Sixth St. A parade to Stevenson Park will commence at 10. A free lunch will be served 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Convention Center and from noon to 3 p.m. at Stevenson Park.

A Juneteenth documentary will be shown at 1:30 p.m., followed buy praise dance by Prophetic Worship Dancer Ashaniti at 3 p.m.

A tumbling demonstration will be presented at 4 p.m. at the Convention Center, followed by Patsy’s Mr. and Miss Juneteenth 7 to 10 p.m. at the Convention Center. A 3 on 3 basketball tournament will be held at the park 2-5 p.m.

On Sunday, June 20, a football agility event with Keevan “Showtime” Lucas will begin at 8:30 a.m., followed by a 7 versus 7 football game at 2 p.m.

The Juneteenth celebration is sponsored by the Abilene Black Chamber of Commerce and Let Us Breathe. June 19 is celebrated as the day in 1865 that slaves in Texas learned they had been freed by President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which became effective Jan. 1, 1863.