Goodyear celebrated Juneteenth in an award-winning family day celebration at Goodyear Recreation Campus on Thursday, June 19, offering residents an evening filled with music, culture, food and history.
The free, family-friendly event ran 5-9 p.m., with expanded outdoor programming kicking off the festivities.
Juneteenth, observed each year on June 19, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. The holiday marks the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation and informed more than 250,000 enslaved people of their freedom.
Now recognized as a federal holiday, Juneteenth serves as a time for celebration, reflection, and education about African American history and resilience.
Goodyear’s Juneteenth Family Day, first held in 2022, has grown into a signature city event.
“Goodyear hosts its Juneteenth Family Day to celebrate the significance of fostering cultural connections while educating the community about the importance of this piece of American history,” said Councilmember Benita Beckles.
In 2023, the community event earned the Outstanding Cultural Awareness Program award from the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association, honoring the city’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and community engagement.
“Our Juneteenth event is a community-driven celebration,” said Natalie Reinen, the city’s festival and events coordinator. “It transforms the Goodyear Recreation Campus into a space where culture, history and community all come together.”
The event featured a schedule beginning outdoors at 5 p.m. with food trucks, live music under the event pavilion, and space for families to gather and enjoy the evening. Indoor programming started at 6 p.m. and includes a variety of interactive workshops, cultural exhibits and performances.
“We really wanted people to come out earlier and enjoy the food trucks, enjoy some live music,” Reinen said. “We’ll have tables and chairs set up so you can enjoy your food before heading inside for all the workshops.”
This year, the event was joined by a panel of alumni and current students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The panelists shared their college experiences and career paths with attendees, offering people a window into opportunities they may not have considered.
“It’s really cool to have the youth sit in on that and see what’s possible,” Reinen said. “A lot of them might not even know that these are career choices available to them.”
Across the event residents saw five large-scale murals created by artists commissioned by the city and selected in partnership with the Goodyear Arts and Culture Commission.
The event also included line dancing lessons, with opportunities to join in a group performance later in the evening. As always, attendees chose from a wide selection of food options from local and Black-owned vendors, including vegan soul food, Chicago-style fried chicken and barbecue.
“We just want to do everything with authenticity,” Reinen said. “That’s where our planning committee really shines. We have residents and business owners in our community who shape this event year after year.”
According to Reinen, last year’s celebration drew more than 3,500 people across multiple generations.
“It was so cool to see that in the crowd, grandparents, parents, teens and kids all enjoying different parts of the event together,” she said. “We’re building this hub for cultural awareness and connection, and also creating memories and friendships that last long after the event ends.”
The 2024 recognition from APRA affirms the event’s success and intentionality. APRA’s annual awards program celebrates excellence in park and recreation services statewide, with winners selected by a panel of industry professionals. Goodyear’s Juneteenth Family Day event was praised for its innovative layout, inclusive programming, and strong community collaboration.
“This achievement highlights the positive impact of the event and the city’s commitment to understanding this historical struggle for freedom and resilience within the Black community,” said Beckles.
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