For Immediate Release: 6/7/2023

California State Parks and Friends of Lakes Folsom and Natoma Celebrate Juneteenth at Historic Black Miners Bar

Contacts:
Steve Hilton
California State Parks
(916) 849-0149

Thomas Stratton
FOLFAN
(916) 306-8874

A family-friendly event celebrating freedom, Black history and culture

FOLSOM, Calif.—California State Parks and Friends of Lakes Folsom and Natoma (FOLFAN) invite the public to the second annual Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 17,at Black Miners Bar, Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. The celebration is also part of the second annual California State Parks Week which runs from June 14-18, 2023.

Juneteenth Day of Observance celebrates the date of June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally received the news that they were free, over 2 years after President Lincoln’s signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. This free event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., celebrates freedom, history, and culture.

Black Miners Bar preserves the legacy of California’s Black 49ers who prospected for gold along the banks of the American River in search of freedom and a better life.

Juneteenth at Black Miners Bar is sponsored by California State Parks and FOLFAN, plus a growing list of co-sponsors including the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Intel Corporation, and REI.

The event features include:

  • Educational exhibits
  • Food vendors
  • A variety of speakers from State Parks, the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, the California Black Chamber of Commerce, a Buffalo Soldier reenactor among others.
  • Free guided nature hikes by FOLFAN docents and state parks interpretive staff
  • Free coloring station for kids 12 and under
  • Author workshop
  • Arts and crafts
  • Vendor exhibits
  • Music


The state park location provides lakeside beach access, including paddle sport rentals. While the Juneteenth event is free, vehicles are subject to a $10 day-use fee to enter the state park.

California State Parks Week will be held June 14-18, 2023. Presented by California State Parks, Save the Redwoods LeagueParks California and California State Parks Foundation, this event celebrates California’s 280 state parks and the people who visit and help protect these iconic places. There will be in-person and virtual events held throughout the state. Learn more at castateparksweek.org.

Friends of Lakes Folsom & Natoma (FOLFAN) is the cooperating association for the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. Formed in 2009, FOLFAN's mission is “enhancing education and recreation opportunities for the public and protecting the wonders and resources of Lakes Folsom and Natoma,” also known as the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. Learn more at folfan.org.




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California State Parks provides for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high quality outdoor recreation.