Celebrate Juneteenth in Bandera: Juneteenth Jubilee Day

We are pleased to announce a special celebration recognizing Juneteenth, to be held at the Bertha Tryon-Hendrick Arnold Cemetery in Bandera on Friday, June 19th, at 10:00 AM. This historic cemetery is located on Old Medina Highway, just off Highway 16.

This year marks the sixth anniversary of Juneteenth becoming a federal holiday and our fourth annual celebration in Bandera. We will come together to honor the significant day of June 19, 1865, when Union Army General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston and proclaimed General Order No. 3, announcing the freedom of all enslaved people in Texas—the last Confederate state to uphold institutional slavery. The observance of this emancipation has evolved into Juneteenth, a day celebrated by African Americans nationwide, spreading from its Texas roots to become a recognized national holiday. In 2021, President Joseph Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, establishing this important day as our nation’s newest federal holiday.

The Bandera County Historical Commission, the Frontier Times Museum, and the Silver Sage Senior Center continue to host this celebration. We are honored to have Rebecca Norton, Chairperson of the Juneteenth planning committee and Executive Director of the Frontier Times Museum, open the event. The festivities will include the National Anthem, the Black National Anthem and several hymns performed by singer Gayle Hayden, alongside poetry recitations by renowned San Antonio poet Da’Rell Pittman. Mr. Larry Jackson will offer a reading from the Emancipation Proclamation, and Kimberly Miles, Chairperson of the Bandera County Historical Commission, will share a perspective on the significance of this holiday.

Following the ceremony, we invite all participants to join us for a community picnic on the cemetery grounds, reminiscent of the traditional Juneteenth celebrations once held throughout Texas. The Silver Sage is donating delicious fried chicken strips, lemonade and water, so attendees are encouraged to bring their favorite dessert or side dish to share while enjoying this communal gathering.

This event is free and open to everyone who wishes to commemorate this important day in American history. For further information, please feel free to contact the Frontier Times Museum at 830-796-3864.

We look forward to celebrating this meaningful occasion with you!