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Lafayette begins Juneteenth celebration with pageant

Posted at 12:06 AM, Jun 11, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-11 01:06:52-04

Lafayette’s Juneteenth celebration began Saturday night with a pageant at the Clifton Chenier Center. 

Juneteenth celebrates Union Army General Gordon Granger freeing the slaves in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. 

Marissa Jenkins and A’Alaya Broussard were crowned queens in the teen division, and O’Loreal Sinegar was crowned in the preteen division. 

Tanavia Sweet, of Lafayette Christian Academy, won the speech contest.

The weeklong celebration will culminate with a music festival Sunday, June 17 at the Heymann Park, starting at 2 p.m. 

The festival will feature gospel and jazz music, activities for children and food. 

It is free to the public.