Juneteenth celebration brought hundreds of visitors to Bernice Allridge Park on Saturday to celebrate freedom.

Experts say Juneteenth can provide generational healing for Black Americans by acknowledging trauma and celebrating resilience.

Even though Juneteenth may not be celebrated as widely this year, it's encouraging to see that Houston, which plays  an important role in the history of this holiday, still holds it in

First created in 1997 by National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation founder Ben Haith, the banner is in red, white and blue of the U.S. flag to convey that all enslaved people and their descendants are American.

Juneteenth is an important day in Black history as well as American history. Though Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, it wasn't until June 19, 1865 that the last enslaved people in the United States were freed. Juneteenth is a reason to celebrate, and across the Island, there are plenty of ways to join in.

Events celebrating Juneteenth are taking place this weekend, including the Juneteenth Family Festival happening Saturday in Beverly and Morgan Park. The free festival is expected to draw more than 5,000 people.

Juneteenth is a federal holiday annually recognized on June 19, commemorating the day of emancipation for enslaved people.