ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY)- The Chemung EOP hosted their 21st Juneteenth festival today at Ernie Davis Park. Juneteenth marks the day troops moved into Galveston to free the last remaining slaves in 1865.
 

This year was a bit more exciting, not only because of a returned sense of normalcy but because the day Juneteenth is now a national holiday.

"It's history that wasn't really recognized and so we are now recognized like George Washington's Birthday Abraham Lincoln's Birthday and we are off those days so it's time for us to have our day,” Anita Lewis, Chief Development Officer of EOP said.
 

Organizers call it a celebration of unity and freedom. The festival featured 55 vendors and live performances.

 Also featured were local artistry, prizes, and African American history in the community. Hundreds of people also came out to celebrate.

"I've been coming here since I was a kid so I just thought it would be great to come out today and just be a part of the community,” Alex Robinson a resident of Elmira said.
 

The energy was filled with excitement and unity community leaders explained slaves in Texas didn't even realize they were free two years prior.
 

"I often think of it as freedom and pain when the slaves were free in Texas it was two years later before they realized they had been free and so they celebrated,” Georgia Verdier President of the NAACP Elmira-Corning branch said.
 

"We're celebrating this is a great day! We’ve been celebrating this day for many years but officially now we have this on the calendar,” Tony Alvernaz, Interim Police Chief, EPD said.

EOP is thankful for all of the sponsors who made the Juneteenth event happen.