Of the various Juneteenth focused festivities going on over the weekend, there was one that focused as much on history as much as the children of today. That event was the 2023 Juneteenth for Kids Celebrate Freedom event at Bob Hart Square.
Attendees were able to enjoy an adorable puppet show as well as free face painting. The puppet show was informative in addition to being fun for the kids, as the story was a musical journey through the history of Juneteenth. Notably, at the end of the event, all of the puppets were given out as special surprises for those who happened to remain. Another fun aspect of this event was that all attendees had a perfect view of the parade as it made its way down Main Street.
The puppet show was performed by Kim McMillon, Niecy-Rae Irby, and 10-year-old assistant Victoria.
“This was a really healing experience!” says puppet show organizer, Kim McMillon. “To have the kids talk and embrace the puppets, have their faces painted — it was just a whole experience of love and full of happiness.”
In a message to the community, in regard to Juneteenth, McMillon had this to say: “Celebrate — no matter what your race, because it is American history. It happened in America, so it is not for only for black people. It may be about what happened to Africans during the Civil War, but anything that happened in America, is American history, and is important for all of us to learn.”