By Dianne Anderson

Juneteenth, one of the longest running celebrations in history, is breaking out in a big way across the calendar, packing weekends with fun, food, music, and in the spirit of the holiday, community organizing.

In Long Beach, modern Juneteenth pioneers are getting outside the city limits, connecting local residents with one of the most important historical sites in California at the Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park.

Through his nonprofit DIG LIFE, Dreamz Into Goals, Oba Totton’s nonprofit has become a force for change for Long Beach community work. He regularly provides laptops and bicycles to local youth, alongside outreach efforts like skate meetups, clothing giveaways, free haircuts, and educational programming.

Now in its fourth year, Totton’s charter bus carrying about 40 residents on June 11 again blazed the trail to Allensworth, the only town in California history to be founded, financed, and governed entirely by African Americans.

Located in Tulare County, the town was established in 1908 by Allen Allensworth, who was born into and escaped slavery, fought in the Civil War, and became a chaplain with the Buffalo Soldiers. He is also known as California’s first Black lieutenant colonel with a mission to create a self-sustaining town where Black families could own land, educate their children, and build wealth and freedom.

Today, the state historic park preserves the town’s restored structures, including the schoolhouse, church, hotel, and Allensworth’s personal residence.

For Totton, the annual trip is a must-see, and serves as a great connector between Los Angeles and the Bay Area. He said their group is usually the largest one traveling from a further distance.

“It’s an all-Black town created by Black people,” he said. “They have reenactments. Some of the people who grew up in the town who have the lineage sit there and tell the stories of their ancestors that actually lived in the town.”

Back in Long Beach, Totton is also helping as a coordinator of vendors for the city’s other major attraction with a bus-run Black Business Tour highlighting downtown Black-owned businesses, in conjunction with the VIP Block Party.

That free event on June 20 is creating local buzz. The World Famous VIP Block Party, presented by The VIP Family Foundation will take over Promenade Square to honor both Juneteenth and Black Music Month through the sights and sounds of Long Beach’s vast musical legacy.

From noon to 8:00 p.m., the festival pulls from the legendary headliners of VIP Records, spanning generations of West Coast culture, featuring legendary producer DJ Battlecat alongside AC The Coldest, Urban Society LB, LBC Park Jam, Soul Cypher LBC, The Cornerstore LA, DJ Kaaos Jones, DJ Smurf, and Malcolm Alexander.

With two stages of live entertainment, Ricky Ruckus hosts the VIP Main Stage featuring a set from DJ Battlecat alongside Emi Secrest and The Gumbo Brothers. Medusa will host the LBC Park Jam Stage, curated by Long Beach’s longest-running day party, LBC Park Jam.

“V.I.P. Records has been part of this community for over 45 years,” said Kelvin Anderson, Owner of World Famous V.I.P. Records. “We have watched this city grow and this block party is our way of giving back. Juneteenth is about freedom and celebration, and there is no better place to do that than right here in Long Beach.”

Offstage, the festival continues with its community marketplace of Black-owned vendors, food and drink offerings, cultural and a dedicated kids’ zone. Organizers are also encouraging residents to support the “Long Beach ALL DAY” Resident Sponsor Initiative to help sustain local cultural programming into the future.

In another corner of Long Beach, the Martin Luther King Jr. Park is hosting its own Juneteenth celebrations, organized by Families Observing Cultures & Uniting Students (F.O.C.U.S.).

The June 20 event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., featuring live music, dance performances, spoken-word artists, local vendors, youth activities, and a diverse lineup of food vendors and chefs. Family fun includes jumpers, interactive games, Black heritage competitions, and showcases by local artists and creators.

“Juneteenth is more than a date in history. It is a powerful reminder of freedom, resilience, and the enduring strength of a community,” the group said on the website. “Through music, art, speakers, local vendors, youth activities, and cultural performances, the event honors the legacy of those who fought for freedom while inspiring the next generation.”

Across the region in Orange County, the celebration returns to Centennial Regional Park in Santa Ana, running from noon to 6:00 p.m. with family-friendly activities, followed by an after-party featuring entertainment, cultural presentations, food vendors, and local businesses.

But the festivities don’t stop when the park closes. The after-party features live entertainment and local businesses begins.

Behind the local celebration is the major force for continuing the legacy.

Dwayne Shipp, president of the Orange County Heritage Council, said they are proud to once again bring a full day and night of Juneteenth spirit for the community that draws out the community members from miles and miles around.

“Bring your lawn chairs and umbrellas. Absolutely no cooking in the park, no outside grills. This year we will be presenting the Faith in Action Award to Pastor Leon Clark of New Spirit Church,” he said.

The event opens at noon with free admission and parking, offering six hours of activities centered on Black history and resilience.

Juneteenth’s original roots stretch back decades in the area. Shipp’s mother, Helen Shipp, founded Santa Ana’s Black History Parade 46 years ago, establishing the tradition of public celebration in the region long before Juneteenth became a federal holiday.

Food Fest 26 begins at 10:30 a.m. with 20 food vendors, five more than last year, along with an expanded car show offering 10 trophies and health resources.

Better yet, he said the celebration doesn’t stop just because the park closes.

Into the night, the celebration continues at 8:00 p.m. with the Freedom After Party at Beale’s Texas BBQ in Santa Ana. The event features DJs, live music, artist performances, drink specials, free parking, and no cover charge.

“This year we will be continuing the party into the evening at Santa Ana’s Black-owned restaurant right on First Street,” Shipp said.

Bea Jones, longtime historian for the Orange County Heritage Council, said Juneteenth is especially about education, and carries deeper meaning today, especially in these times of political division.

“Juneteenth is particularly important to understand because so many people have so much emphasis on this 250th thing, which does not affect us at all,” she said. “It’s important that they know what the 19th of June means. Even though it’s a national holiday, as you can see, their president don’t care nothing about national holidays.”

Around Orange County, other programs are looking at the true meaning of Juneteenth and freedom through the arts.

Now in its fifth year, Gospel Voices of OC, produced by founder Debora Wondercheck, focuses on scholarships and arts access while raising funds for the Arts & Learning Conservatory. The production highlights Black history through music and storytelling, drawing on cultural traditions spanning the African diaspora.

She said her faith and passion lie in orchestral music, and the production brings together Black history dating back to pre-slavery. This year’s lineup spotlights historical figures, including blood-bank pioneer Charles Drew and Floyd Norman, who became the first African American animator to work for Disney.

“Showing our roots across the diaspora and with the church. Our people have historically been able to express themselves through music, dance, and the spoken word, and our production will continue that legacy.”

In Long Beach 

1. World Famous VIP Block Party Juneteenth Edition Long Beach
   https://www.visitlongbeach.com/events/annual-events/juneteenth/

2. Long Beach Juneteenth Celebration at MLK Park
   https://juneteenthatkingpark.com/

In Orange County 

1. Orange County Heritage Council Juneteenth Festival, Santa Ana)
   https://www.oc-hc.org/events

2. Gospel Voices of OC – Juneteenth at Chapman University, Orange
   https://www.visitanaheim.org/blog/stories/post/celebrate-juneteenth-in-and-around-anaheim/

3.)  Celebrate Juneteenth In and Around Anaheim | Festivals & Events