Juneteenth Atlanta Parade and Music Festival: Everything you need to know

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — It’s time for the city’s 14th Juneteenth Atlanta Parade and Music Festival!

The event kicks off on Friday and lasts until Sunday, with a parade marching down Boulevard on Saturday. Atlanta News First is the event’s media partner and will broadcast the parade live.

Here’s everything you need to know about the event.

What is the Juneteenth Atlanta Parade and Music Festival?

The event celebrates Juneteenth, the June 19 holiday commemorating the day enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free. The news arrived in 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, and marked the end of slavery in the U.S.

This year’s Juneteenth Atlanta Parade and Music Festival at Piedmont Park features several activities, including the parade, the 5K Freedom Run, a Father’s Day commemoration, a car show, a health fair and a youth soccer tournament in light of the FIFA World Cup.

What is the Juneteenth parade route?

The Juneteenth parade starts at the intersection of Boulevard NE and Highland Avenue and ends at 10th Street by Piedmont Park, where the festival awaits. It will include floats, dance troupes, local and state organizations, marching bands, special dignitaries and more.

The parade starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 20.

See the route:

How can I get to the Juneteenth parade?

Organizers recommend taking MARTA to the parade — especially King Memorial Station, which is about a mile from the event’s start point.

How do I watch the Juneteenth parade on TV?

Atlanta News First is broadcasting the Juneteenth parade live on television and on ANF+, our streaming platform. Coverage is from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. On your TV or streaming device, search “Atlanta News First” to download our free app.