Saturday, November 8, 2025
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation held its inaugural Juneteenth Jubilee at Valley Stream State Park on June 19.
The free event featured cultural performances, children’s activities, educational discussions, and community engagement.
“I’m so glad it (the event) came here to Valley Stream,” New York State Parks Deputy Regional Director Kara Hahn said. “This is such a beautiful space. Today is a day of joy, of remembrance and reflection and marks a powerful moment history and the ongoing journey towards justice, equity, and freedom for all. We are truly grateful you chose to spend this day here with us, here in one of New York State’s most beautiful spaces.
“Our parks are more than green spaces,” she continued. “They’re places of rest and celebration, community, and connection. They belong to all of us. At New York State Parks, we are committed to ensuring that everyone feels welcome. All are welcome here to our spaces. We recognize there’s still work to be done, but thank you for being here, for celebrating this day of joy with us and for continuing to move the work forward, we are on the path to help shape a more just and equitable future.”
The Juneteenth Jubilee included a performance by the Long Island Nets Dance Team. In addition to the performance, the Long Island Nets hosted a basketball clinic for children between the ages of seven and 14.
Speakers at the event included Hahn, District 22 Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages and Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages. The program was opened by Thomasa Jarrell, Regional Director of Administration Services, who welcomed attendees and introduced the scheduled speakers.
Activities during the day included children’s games, inflatables, lawn games and vendor booths. Attendees were invited to the front of the stage to participate in various line dances led by state park officials. Informational booths were also set up for various organizations.
The Juneteenth Jubilee was held to commemorate Juneteenth, a holiday marking the effective end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform the remaining enslaved African Americans of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued. The day has since been observed as a commemoration of emancipation and a celebration of African American history and culture.
“It’s important that we honor this day but also make a commitment that we will fight for justice,” Michaelle Solages said. “We fight for justice every day, every year, because we know that there is a lot of unequal action that’s happening in our communities.”
Juneteenth was recognized as a federal holiday in the United States in 2021, when legislation was signed into law establishing June 19 as Juneteenth National Independence Day. This marked the first time the United States had officially recognized the date as a national holiday, though it had long been celebrated in many communities nationwide.
The Juneteenth Jubilee at Valley Stream State Park was the first such event organized by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in the Long Island Region. Staff from Valley Stream State Park and other nearby sites, including Hempstead Lake and Jones Beach, supported the event. This initiative reflects the agency’s ongoing commitment to diversity, education, and accessibility in public spaces.
For more information about future events hosted by New York State Parks, including cultural celebrations and recreational programs, the public can visit parks.ny.gov/events or follow @LongIslandStatePark
