Galveston County Juneteenth events

Softball tournament

The Front Door Social and Charity Club will have this event today and Saturday at Carver Park, 6410 Park Ave., in Texas City.

Fried chicken wings and french fries will be sold from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, and barbecue sandwiches will be sold from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at the park.

All proceeds will go toward scholarships and financial assistance for county families.

Call Russell Gary, 409-739-4361; Kelvin Boyd, 713-299-5041; or Derrick Lewis, 409-739-8257.

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Juneteenth Gospelfest

The city of Texas City and the mainland branch of the NAACP will have this event at 7 p.m. today at the Doyle Convention Center, 2010 Fifth Ave. N., in Texas City.

Tickets are $15 in advance or $25 at the door.

Marcus D. Wiley will be the emcee.

Call 409-643-5990.

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Juneteenth national holiday observance

The National Juneteenth Observance Foundation will have this event starting with prayer service at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, then the raising of the flag at 8 a.m. at Rosenberg Library, 2310 Sealy Ave., in Galveston.

The Rev. Ronald V. Myers Sr. will be the guest speaker.

Visit nationaljuneteenth.com.

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Emancipation reading, prayer breakfast

The 31st annual Al Edwards Emancipation Proclamation Reading and Prayer Breakfast will be at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Ashton Villa, 2300 Broadway, in Galveston.

A free breakfast, sponsored by Landry’s Restaurant, will be served after the ceremony.

The event is open to the public.

Call Douglas Matthews, 409-747-2912.

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Take it to the Wood

Shiloh A.M.E. Church will have its second annual barbecue cookoff event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Kempner Park, 2704 Ave. O, in Galveston.

There will be cash prizes, food, games and dancing.

To register your team, call Annette Collins, 832-561-2548, or e-mail, nette6887(at)aol.com; or Helen Davis, 409-762-3646, or e-mail, shilohamec(at)sbcglobal.net.

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La Marque Juneteenth parade

The city of La Marque will have its Juneteenth parade at 9 a.m. Saturday starting at Carver Park, 6410 Park Ave., and travel to Highland Bayou Park on Interstate 45 South at Exit 10, next to Ron Hoover Marine, in La Marque.

The festival will be from noon to 7 p.m.

Visit www.juneteenthin lamarque.com, or call 832-885-7223 to participate and for information.

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Texas City Juneteenth parade

The city of Texas City is accepting entries for its annual Juneteenth parade, which will be at 10 a.m. Saturday starting on Sixth Street and ending at the Rotary Pavilion in Nessler Park, 2010 Fifth Ave. N., in Texas City.

Call 409-643-5990 to sign up and for information.

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Hitchcock Juneteenth parade

The annual Juneteenth parade and celebration will be at 10 a.m. Saturday starting from Fourth Street and state Highway 6 and ending at the Greater New Light Missionary Baptist Church, 6538 Martin Luther King Blvd., in Hitchcock.

Immediately after the parade, the celebration will start, which includes a program, barbecue, activities for children and moonwalks, etc.

If you would like to participate, call Friere Moore, 713-542-3620, Wayne Jenkins, 409-502-1230, or Larry Myles Sr., 409-766-0495.

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Juneteenth Jubilee parade

The annual event will start at 11 a.m. Saturday beginning on 25th and Ball streets to 41st and Ball streets, ending at Wright Cuney Park, in Galveston.

To participate in the parade, call James Josey, 409-497-6963, or Jarma Shabazz, 409-599-0155.

Proof of liability insurance is required before the event.

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Unity Day Festival

The Unity Day Festival on the Street will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot of First Union Baptist Church, 1027 Ave. K, in Galveston.

There will be food booths including fish sandwiches and french fries; shrimp po-boys; sausage on a stick; baked goodies; lemonade stand; snow cones; candy; and tea cakes. There also will be a resale shop.

Call Wilina Gatson, 409-762-3411.

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Juneteenth Jubilee picnic

The annual Annie Mae Charles Juneteenth Jubilee picnic will start at noon Saturday after the parade at Wright Cuney Park, 41st and Ball streets, in Galveston.

Complimentary refreshments will be provided, as well as music and activities for the entire family.

A special program including the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation will begin at 2 p.m.

The picnic is free to the public.

Call Barbara Gordon, 409-599-8050, or Anna Fields, 409-526-6193.

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Juneteenth at Stringfellow Orchards

The fifth annual event will be from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at 7902 state Highway 6 in Hitchcock.

Activities will include a moonwalk, games for children, music and live performances.

Naomi Mitchell Carrier, will autograph her book, “Go Down, Old Hannah: The Living History of African-American Texans,” and will present one of her plays at 5 p.m.

Talking Back Living History Theatre will perform the play.

Call Sam or Doris Collins III, 409-256-3822.

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Black Men of Distinction event

The Black Men of Distinction of Texas City will have its 43rd annual Juneteenth Celebration at 1 p.m. Saturday at Tony’s Garage, on the corner of Texas Avenue and Ninth Street, in Texas City.

The event is open and free to the public. There will be free barbecue, drinks, ice cream and watermelon.

There also will be a beauty pageant and a historical reading of “Freeing the Slaves” by Booker T. Washington Ex’s.

There are several activities planned for the entire family.

Call 409-354-3377 or 409-939-4667.

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Juneteenth Parkfest

This event, sponsored by the Galveston African-American Museum, will be from 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Shields Park, 33rd and Church streets, in Galveston.

Integrity Life praise dancers, soloist, Sheila Renee Bell and Arthur G. and Z.B. Connection zydeco band will perform.

Take your own umbrella, lawn chair, barbecue pits and coolers.

Call James Josey, 409-497-6963.

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Gospel explosion

The 10th annual Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church Gospel Explosion will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday in the back parking lot of the church, 3602 Ave. H, in Galveston.

Vendors will be available, as well as activities for young children. The event is free and open to the public.

Call Peter or Quinnette James, 409-762-0088.

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March, musical and reception

Reedy Chapel A.M.E. Church will have its annual event at 6 p.m. Saturday starting with the march from the old Galveston County Courthouse, 722 Moody, to the church, 2015 Broadway, in Galveston.

The event will commemorate the reading of the General Order No. 3, and the Emancipation Proclamation will be read during the program that will feature African-American spirituals by the Heritage Chorale, under the direction of Izola Collins.

The event is free and open to the public. Call Sharon Gillins, 409-392-5887.

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Galveston Gathering dance gala

In conjunction with the Juneteenth festivities on the island, this event will be from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday at the Old Central Cultural Center, 2627 Ave. M, in Galveston.

The attire is semiformal and BYOB.

Call Margaret Bell, 409-621-1688, or Norma Picken, 409-762-0086, for information.

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Galveston Gathering picnic

The annual event will be from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at Kempner Park, 2704 Ave. O, in Galveston.

Call Margaret Bell, 409-621-1688, Norma Picken, 409-762-0086, or Polly Jones, 409-933-1833.