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Germantown Juneteenth Festival brings history to life

  • Students with the Kama-Sahlor Group, directed by Lisa Hopkins, bring a dance performance to the Juneteenth Festival on Germantown Avenue.

    Students with the Kama-Sahlor Group, directed by Lisa Hopkins, bring a dance performance to the Juneteenth Festival on Germantown Avenue. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • Iyona Laurrel, of Springfield, performs during the Juneteenth Festival on Germantown Avenue.

    Iyona Laurrel, of Springfield, performs during the Juneteenth Festival on Germantown Avenue. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • The Juneteenth Festival in Germantown also included a West African inspired drum performance.

    The Juneteenth Festival in Germantown also included a West African inspired drum performance. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • Students with the Kama-Sahlor Group, directed by Lisa Hopkins, bring a dance performance.

    Students with the Kama-Sahlor Group, directed by Lisa Hopkins, bring a dance performance. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • Cornelia Swinson with Johnson House Historic Site speaks as City council members Al Taubenberger and Helen Gym stand by to read the citation honoring Johnson House for its annual Juneteenth celebration.

    Cornelia Swinson with Johnson House Historic Site speaks as City council members Al Taubenberger and Helen Gym stand by to read the citation honoring Johnson House for its annual Juneteenth celebration. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • Couples jump the broom during the Juneteenth Festival on Germantown Avenue. The jumping of brooms is an African-American tradition that was part of wedding ceremonies of slaves in the South.

    Couples jump the broom during the Juneteenth Festival on Germantown Avenue. The jumping of brooms is an African-American tradition that was part of wedding ceremonies of slaves in the South. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • Couples jump the broom during the Juneteenth Festival on Germantown Avenue. The jumping of brooms is African-American tradition that was part of wedding ceremonies of slaves in the South.

    Couples jump the broom during the Juneteenth Festival on Germantown Avenue. The jumping of brooms is African-American tradition that was part of wedding ceremonies of slaves in the South. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • In the garden at Johnson House Millicent Sparks brings history to life in her role as Harriet Tubman.

    In the garden at Johnson House Millicent Sparks brings history to life in her role as Harriet Tubman. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • Reenactor Ron Carter, with Keepers of the Culture, reads the Emancipation Proclamation in his role as Frederick Douglass.

    Reenactor Ron Carter, with Keepers of the Culture, reads the Emancipation Proclamation in his role as Frederick Douglass. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • The Juneteenth Festival is held at the 6300 block of Germantown Avenue, on the border between Germantown and Mt Airy.

    The Juneteenth Festival is held at the 6300 block of Germantown Avenue, on the border between Germantown and Mt Airy. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • The Juneteenth Festival is held at the 6300 block of Germantown Avenue, on the border between Germantown and Mt Airy.

    The Juneteenth Festival is held at the 6300 block of Germantown Avenue, on the border between Germantown and Mt Airy. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • The Juneteenth Festival commemorates the day when slaves were freed in the United States of America.

    The Juneteenth Festival commemorates the day when slaves were freed in the United States of America. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • To honor ancestors, elder Iraina Salaa of Germantown pours libation at the base of the marker that commemorates the first protests against slavery.

    To honor ancestors, elder Iraina Salaa of Germantown pours libation at the base of the marker that commemorates the first protests against slavery. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • ''Cornel'' John McCall and ''Captain'' Hassan Ali Hameen, representing the ''Resurrected Order'' of Buffalo Soldiers Philadelphia Chapter, watch the pouring of libation at the historic marker.

    ''Cornel'' John McCall and ''Captain'' Hassan Ali Hameen, representing the ''Resurrected Order'' of Buffalo Soldiers Philadelphia Chapter, watch the pouring of libation at the historic marker. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • The Philly Children’s March leads the Freedom Parade past Grumblethorpe on Germantown Avenue as they walk from the historic marker to the Juneteenth Festival near Johnson House Historic Site.

    The Philly Children’s March leads the Freedom Parade past Grumblethorpe on Germantown Avenue as they walk from the historic marker to the Juneteenth Festival near Johnson House Historic Site. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • The march arrives at Johnson House Historic Site.

    The march arrives at Johnson House Historic Site. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • The parade marches past the Women of Germantow mural on the side of the Germantown YWCA as it heads towards the Juneteenth Festival, near Johnson House.

    The parade marches past the Women of Germantow mural on the side of the Germantown YWCA as it heads towards the Juneteenth Festival, near Johnson House. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

Germantown marked its 10th Juneteenth Festival Saturday, celebrating the role of the region in fighting slavery in the United States.

Historic reenactments took place at Johnson House Historic Site, a former stop on the Underground Railroad. Millicent Sparks drew a small crowd into the shade of the garden with her reenactment of Harriet Tubman. Ron Carter, as Frederick Douglass, read the Emancipation Proclamation.

At the start of the day, a few blocks down Germantown Avenue, a small group paid respects by pouring libation at a historic marker on the site where the first protests against slavery took place. Philly Children’s March, a youth-centered social justice group, led the traditional Freedom Walk to Johnson House.

City Councilwoman Helen Gym presented a citation honoring the work of Johnson House over the past decade. Noting the low attendance, she told the few gathered at the stage that the city will commit to making the event more worthy of what it represents.

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