photo by: Mike Yoder

Lawrence’s Juneteenth Celebration Parade makes its way through downtown on Saturday, June 17, 2023.

Lawrence’s annual Juneteenth celebration kicked off Saturday with a parade down Massachusetts Street. Juneteenth is a federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved people in America. The parade ran through downtown and ended at South Park, where the festivities will continue with live music, children’s activities, oral histories and much more through 8 p.m.

photo by: Mike Yoder

City Commissioner Amber Sellers, right, and Ursula Minor, president of the Lawrence branch of the NAACP, second from right, are pictured at the Lawrence Juneteenth Celebration Parade on Saturday, June 17, 2023.

photo by: Mike Yoder

People watch as Lawrence’s Juneteenth Celebration Parade passes by on Massachusetts Street on Saturday, June 17, 2023.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Paradegoers watch Lawrence’s Juneteenth Celebration Parade on Saturday, June 17, 2023, in downtown Lawrence.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Members of the Lawrence All-Star Cheer perform on Massachusetts Street during Lawrence’s Juneteenth Celebration Parade on Saturday, June 17, 2023.

photo by: Mike Yoder

People watch as Lawrence’s Juneteenth Celebration Parade passes by on Massachusetts Street on Saturday, June 17, 2023.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Stilt walker Nate Tweedy, of Topeka, shakes hands with parade attendees during Lawrence’s Juneteenth Celebration Parade on Massachusetts Street on Saturday, June 17, 2023

photo by: Mike Yoder

People wave to friends and family passing by on a float during Lawrence’s Juneteenth Celebration Parade on Massachusetts Street on Saturday, June 17, 2023

photo by: Mike Yoder

Members of the Woody family wave from their float to the crowd during Lawrence’s second Juneteenth Celebration Parade on Massachusetts Street on Saturday, June 17, 2023

photo by: Mike Yoder

People watch as Lawrence’s Juneteenth Celebration Parade passes by on Massachusetts Street on Saturday, June 17, 2023.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Members of the Unity High Steppers Drill Team from Topeka perform during Lawrence’s Juneteenth Celebration Parade on Massachusetts Street on Saturday, June 17, 2023

photo by: Mike Yoder

From left, Makai Franklin, 6, and his mother, Charnele Franklin, of Lawrence, dance while getting a 360-degree video recording of their performance during the Lawrence Juneteenth Celebration in South Park on Saturday, June 17, 2023.