Ann Arbor NAACP president: Juneteenth celebration set for June 13 with march, vendors and children’s activities

Andre Watson, president of the Ann Arbor NAACP, used a segment on FYI to invite residents to the branch’s annual Juneteenth celebration and framed the event as both celebration and civic outreach.

Watson said, "June 13th, so not actually Juneteenth, but June 13th that Saturday. We're starting at 9:00 at Fuller Park with a walk where we'll be walking from Fuller Park down to Wheeler Park." He told viewers that the festivities would begin around noon and said the closing time was approximate: "I think we stop at about 4:00 or 5:00." The host clarified: "Just show up at 12:00 or 9:00 for that march."

Watson described programming intended to draw families and build community ties: vendors, performers, a cake walk, children’s activities including a bouncy house, and Juneteenth-themed T-shirts. "We have vendors. Many vendors. We have a tent. We have activities for children. We have a bouncy house. We will have cakes," he said.

Beyond the event logistics, Watson emphasized the NAACP’s mission locally and urged broader civic engagement: "We're just a local arm, if you will, of a national organization that champions issues that pertain to underserved communities," he said, and invited residents of all backgrounds to participate and consider membership.

Watson positioned Juneteenth as an opportunity for education and community-building as well as a celebration and encouraged attendance from local leaders and families.

The program directs viewers to the city channel and CTN YouTube for more local programming and event information.