Juneteenth in Beaver County: Walking tacos, local performances and community togetherness
Two Beaver County celebrations on June 20 highlighted Juneteenth and delighted community members with food, activities, and entertainment.
Juneteenth is a special day in Beaver County. Beaver Falls Mayor Kenya Johns described it as a time to celebrate history, culture, and overcoming. The holiday provides the communities of Beaver County with opportunities to gather and enjoy fellowship with each other. The Juneteenth events in Aliquippa and Beaver Falls last weekend highlighted the holiday and gave families a fun, safe place to spend the afternoon.
The Second Ave Playground in Beaver Falls was bustling from 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Kids of all ages filled the basketball courts, while other attendees watched from chairs around the courts. Around 20 vendors lined one side of the courts, selling food and raising awareness about resources in the area.
Johns explained how the event came together. She said the Juneteenth Planning Committee collaborated with the Beaver Falls Reunion Committee, beginning in January or February. They invited anyone in to join the committee and welcomed volunteers the day of the event to make everything run smoothly. She said it was the fifth annual celebration, and it has been growing every year. Johns estimated that around 1,000 people attended throughout the day.
When asked what makes the Beaver Falls community special, Johns said, “We are a small community but we are resilient and we are committed to coming together and making a better tomorrow every day.”
Deputy Mayor Peggy Evans also described the behind-the-scenes efforts of the celebration. She credited the City of Beaver Falls, the Second Ave Committee, and local community members and businesses with making the event possible. She expressed gratitude toward Mark O’Harris, the owner of Chop Shop on Seventh Ave, for his generous donation of T-shirts for the committee members and volunteers.
Like Johns, Evans was pleased with the turnout. “Every year it grows,” she said. “This year it has grown into something even better.”
Evans also appreciated the local and state level politicians who came out to the event. Commissioners Jack Manning and Tony Amadio attended, and District Attorney Nate Bible and U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio both spoke on the importance of Juneteenth.
“We try to recognize all cultures in Beaver Falls,” Evans said. “We just pull the community together and we have a great day.”
A few attendees shared what they enjoyed about the celebration. Carlayah, 16, of Beaver Falls said, “It’s pretty beautiful seeing everyone come together, soaking up the sun.”
Peter, 10, also from Beaver Falls, stood at the entrance of the event, enthusiastically offering free popcorn to the people streaming in.
“I like that the police officers asked me to give away popcorn,” he said.
Peter described the event as “something to get out and do for the people.”
A first-time attendee said she’ll “absolutely” be back next year. She called it a very relaxing environment and a great place to meet new neighbors.
“All the vendors are really friendly, too,” she added, noting that she especially appreciated the Youth Ambassadors Program (YAP) table. YAP is a mental health program for youth in Beaver County schools.
Meanwhile, from noon to 8 p.m., members of the Aliquippa community enjoyed their own celebration at Louis “Lefty” Cepull Memorial Park. It was the second annual Juneteenth event sponsored by Stop the Violence, an organization working to prevent violence in the city, particularly among Aliquippa’s youth.
According to the executive director, Sandra Walker-Gilbert of Aliquippa, Stop the Violence hosts events such as vision board workshops, book-bag bashes, and festivals like the Juneteenth celebration to establish a relationship with kids. “We’re all just trying to pitch in as a community to nurture these kids any way we can,” Walker-Gilbert said.
Around 20 vendors attended the event. Many sold refreshments like walking tacos, chicken and fries, and fresh-squeezed lemonade, while others gave away free items and engaged the community on important topics. The Beaver County Democratic Committee set up a table, and another group of volunteers facilitated voter registration.
In addition to vendors, the celebration featured several local performers. Micah Genes of Aliquippa sang the Black national anthem. Check out his performance on Stop the Violence's Facebook page below:
The volunteers at the voter registration table praised the performances of the step group Get It Girl, as well as the Ibeji Drum Ensemble, a three-generational family band. Gospel rapper B.I.G.S.T.E.V.E., DJ Bro. Z and DJ Zoom, and Victoria Bennett (“Pretty Voice”) from Pittsburgh also entertained attendees throughout the event.
Sabrina Alston of Aliquippa, a chef at the A & O Backyard Barbecue tent, described the turnout as “excellent, beautiful.” She enjoyed watching the kids sing songs, jump in the bouncy house, and play with bubbles.
A few of the kids themselves praised the event. Navaeh, 12, Toni, 13, and Dannell, 13, all Aliquippa residents, said it was a nice event, and that the food and drinks — and prices! — were good. They appreciated the opportunity to celebrate the local Black community and their culture.
Both Juneteenth events in Beaver County celebrated not only the holiday itself but also the tight-knit communities of Beaver Falls and Aliquippa. Sharing a culture means more than sharing history — it’s about enjoying the present together.
Audrey McAlister
Audrey McAlister is a Communications & Journalism major at Geneva College, freelance reporting as an intern for The Bridge.
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