Juneteenth celebration planned at the fairgrounds in Walla Walla

Anthony Covert spoke at his first Juneteenth event in the Walla Walla community in 2024, shortly after he was released from prison.

"It was such an amazing experience," he said. "While I was incarcerated, I'd organized the events for the incarcerated Juneteenth. Whatever unit I was in, I'd put them together over there. I wanted to be able to be involved with it out here, as well."

In 2025, Covert planned an event on the Whitman campus that was one of three Juneteenth events in Walla Walla. This year, he is organizing Juneteenth: Umoja & Community, a free event hosted at the Walla Walla County Fairgrounds that he hopes will be the community's unified local Juneteenth celebration.

Juneteenth originated in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1866, commemorating the day one year earlier when official communication was received from President Abraham Lincoln that enslaved people were freed. The news arrived more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.

Early celebrations involved church and community gatherings throughout Texas. Juneteenth became a federally recognized holiday in 2021, and celebrations throughout the country continue to symbolize and celebrate the end of American slavery.

Covert sees the reach and impact beyond ending slavery.

"The Emancipation Proclamation was more than just freeing slaves," Covert said. "It was telling people of color that you now get to integrate as people into your community, and there were people that weren't in slavery that were a part of that."

The theme of the 2026 event encompasses that idea. Umoja, the first Kwanzaa principle, means unity in Swahili.

"Our hope is to be able to instill the importance of community, regardless of what color you are, regardless of your background," he said. "This is an inaugural celebration for unification of community."

Bringing Juneteenth to the fairgrounds and Pepsi Stage and Lawn, Covert wants the entire community to know where they can go to enjoy it.

The event will include a live DJ, breakdancing and popping performances from Peter de Grasse and the 5th Element Project, a car show hosted by the Washington State Lowriders Car Club, field games, water balloons, vendors, raffles and more entertainment to be determined.

Backyard barbecue-style food - hot dogs, burgers, chips, potato salad, sodas, water - will be free while supplies last.

The money raised from the raffle will go toward funding a budget for the 2027 event. Donations will also be accepted.

"Our goal is to make this as festive as possible, while also acknowledging how we came about celebrating this day," Covert said.

He plans to open the event with a libation, a ceremony "that acknowledges the ancestors, the people that came before you."

"Bring your family, bring your aunties, cousins, nieces, nephews, just everybody," he said, "come on down, enjoy yourself, have fun, celebrate a day of freedom, freedom of mind, freedom of spirit, and just enjoy a day to build community."

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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 10:06 PM.