Juneteenth Celebration Returns to Bend This Year

It goes by many names: Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day, but Juneteenth, a portmanteau of June 19, is its best-known name. A celebrated date since 1865, which initially marked the liberation for those still enslaved. The Confederacy surrendered to the Union in the spring of that year, ending the Civil War, but they still controlled territory further west, in Texas. That’s where the last of the enslaved were freed, and they dubbed the day Juneteenth.

The Source spoke with the three co-organizers of this year’s upcoming celebration in Bend: Josie Stanfield, Kasia Moon and Katherina Barguil. Stanfield said the day is historically characterized by communal gathering and cooking, as well as serving as a continual reminder of Black resilience. 

Local singer Maria Jackson, who performed at last year’s Juneteenth. Credit: Riccardo Waites

She added, “It represents honoring my past family members who were enslaved and what they went through. The fact that I’m here, and that my friends who are Black are still here, it’s really a testament to how powerful Black people are and how resilient Black people are.” 

Moon provided a more contemporary perspective, that locally speaking, this provides the opportunity to show the Black presence in Central Oregon, “Whether they like it or not.” 

Stanfield said this year’s celebration, held in the afternoon at Open Space, will feature vendors, food, a cake walk, both barbers and braiders and a cocktail bar — with mocktail options. In lieu of a DJ, which they had last year, Riccardo Waites of the internet radio station, We Black Radio, will host.

Central Oregon’s Juneteenth is put on to celebrate the Black community and the businesses and organizations within it, Stanfield said.   

Kasia Moon, owner of Moonchild Artistry, will feature a variety of nail tech designs, just as she did last year. Credit: Riccardo Waites

The budget for this year’s event is smaller than before, in part because fundraising began a mere three months ago, but also because they elected not to work with the City of Bend. Last year, a social media misunderstanding delayed funding and upended operations.

While funding was received in time for the event, Barguil said mistrust remains and repair work needs to be done between the City of Bend and the Black and brown community. Regardless, she credited private donors and mutual aid from the community for helping put on this year’s event. 

Barguil, an Afro-Latino, said as someone who didn’t grow up celebrating Juneteenth, she sees it as a critical opportunity to learn more about her heritage, learn more about her community and to embrace that same community, alongside her found family, here in Central Oregon. To celebrate all of the progress made thus far. 

Juneteenth
Fri. June 19 2-8pm
Open Space
220 NE Lafayette Ave

This article appears in the Source June 11, 2026.