Home News Central Valley News Juneteenth Freedom Celebration Weekend in Merced

Juneteenth Freedom Celebration Weekend in Merced

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Andrea Cruthird-Mays (right) poses with her daughter, Cheri Gustellum, during the annual Juneteenth Freedom Celebration at Cousins Corner in Merced. The pair represented the Merced County Office of Education, sharing information about its Empower program and adult education programs with community members attending the celebration.

July 6, 2026

CVV News

The Juneteenth Freedom Celebration Weekend brought the Merced community together June 19–21 for three days of fellowship, faith, culture, entertainment, and reflection honoring freedom and African American history.

The celebration began Friday, June 19, at Cousins Corner, where community members gathered to kick off a weekend dedicated to freedom, culture, faith, food, music, and community.

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Texas were finally informed of their freedom—more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

The weekend-long celebration was made possible through the collaboration of several community partners, including BlackECE, Cousins Corner, and the Greater Merced Black Chamber of Commerce.

Festivities continued Saturday, June 20, at McNamara Park with a family reunion, community cookout, live entertainment, and activities that celebrated Black culture and joy. Families and friends gathered throughout the day to reconnect, enjoy food, music, and fellowship, and celebrate the significance of Juneteenth.

The weekend concluded Sunday, June 21, with Community Worship and Reflection. Organizers encouraged residents to support local Black churches throughout Merced County as a way of continuing the spirit of unity and service beyond the holiday.

The celebration came to a close with an evening of laughter at the Roger T Comedy Show at the Italo Lodge. The event provided a memorable finale to a weekend centered on honoring freedom, strengthening community bonds, and celebrating Black excellence and joy.

Marylene Riley, center, is joined by Yvette White, left, and Sonjia Little, right, after being recognized for her contributions to the community during the Juneteenth Celebration held June 19, 2026, at Cousin’s Corner in Merced.

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Felicia Roberts took an idea gathered a few people to reached into a minority community to highlight the positive, using a minority newspaper the Central Valley Voice. Roberts was joined by her sisters Carolyn Williams, Alleashia Thomas, niece Hermonie Lynn Williams, nephew Ron Williams, cousin Jerald Lester, Jay Slaffey, Greg Savage, Tim Daniels and the late J Denise Fontaine. Each individual played an important role in the birth of the newspapers. Since, then many have stood strong behind the success of the newspapers and its goal to fill a void in the Central Valley community The Central Valley Voice published their 1st issue in November 1991. Its purposed was to highlight the achievements of minorities in the Central Valley. The Voice focuses on the accomplishments of African Americans and Hispanics giving young people role models while diminishing the stereotypical pictures of gangs, crime and violence that permeate the minority communities. Since 1991, the Central Valley Voice has provided an important voice for the minority community throughout the Madera, Merced. Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties.

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