Photo by Eric Ayres Wheeling City Council this week proclaimed June 19 as Juneteenth Independence Day, encouraging all residents to take part in Juneteenth ceremonies. From left are Councilman Ben Seidler, Bethany Decker of the Wheeling Arts & Cultural Commission, Juneteenth celebration Music Director Logan Seidler, Councilwoman Connie Cain, Juneteenth events organizer Ron Scott Jr., Mayor Denny Magruder, Vice Mayor Jerry Sklavounakis, and Councilmen Ty Thorngate and Dave Palmer. Not pictured are Councilman Tony Assaro and event committee members Vincent DeGeorge and Dean Connors.

WHEELING – The Ohio Valley community is ready to celebrate Juneteenth this week with ceremonies, music, fellowship and activities in the Friendly City for everyone to come together and enjoy.

The federal holiday is officially observed this Friday, June 19, but events are being planned on multiple days to usher in a busy holiday weekend in Wheeling. The community events celebrate the spirit of annual Juneteenth National Independence Day, commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

This week, Wheeling City Council issued a proclamation deeming June 19 as Juneteenth Independence Day in the city. Mayor Denny Magruder encouraged all residents to take part in the Juneteenth ceremonies and activities while “striving to be more aware of the significance of this celebration in African American history in our nation and in this community.”

Organizers of Juneteenth events in Wheeling have partnered with local entities and have received support from sponsors to make it all happen.

“We have a good bit,” said Juneteenth events organizer Ron Scott Jr. of the YWCA. “It’s not our normal schedule of events, but we’ve got some good stuff planned for everyone.”

Events kick off Thursday at the Ohio County Public Library in downtown Wheeling, where an ensemble of talented area musicians will be presenting a special Juneteenth preview show celebrating the history of Black music. The presentation and musical performance will begin at 7 p.m.

“It’s the same band that’s performing on Friday,” Scott said, noting that the public will be able to get a sample on Thursday night of what will be in store during Friday’s Juneteenth celebration on The Plaza on Market. “There will be more artists on Friday.”

Curated by event musical director Logan Seidler of the Ohio County Public Library and with Syncopated Services, the musical selections span many genres to collectively tell a more comprehensive story.

“It’s almost like a historical musical journey,” Scott said. “It starts with some African music and it goes up through soul, R&B and hip-hop — it takes you on a nice little journey through history and music.”

The crux of the holiday observations will take place on Juneteenth itself — this Friday. Events kick off at 4 p.m. on Market Plaza.

The ceremonial segment will feature speakers including Owens Brown, Unique Murphy, Siyan Lopez, Michael Aulick and Darryl Clausell, along with keynote speaker James E. Griffin, president of the West Virginia State Association of Elks.

At 5 p.m., the ensemble band will perform. There will be food trucks, vendors and more during the celebration on the plaza.

“We have a couple of surprise artists that we’re going to bring out,” Scott said. “We really have some stuff up our sleeve for the Friday performance. I’m really excited for that.”

Saturday is a busy day in Wheeling as West Virginia Day is celebrated and the Jamboree City/WWVA events take place throughout town, along with the Main Street to Mountains: A Wheeling Portrait Plein Air Art Experience bringing artists painting live at locations all over the city. Juneteenth-related events also will continue into Saturday, as well, starting with the R&B Brunch at the Artisan Center.

“That’s something that we’ve partnered with Wheeling Heritage to bring,” Scott said, noting that DJ Kaz will offer some interactive music, games, trivia and more during the brunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. “There will be good food, good music and great vibes.”

Afterward at 1:30 p.m., there will be a dedication of the Chapline Street interpretive sign near the Pythian Building at 1025 Chapline St.

“That used to be the Black section of town,” Scott said. “Historically, that Pythian Building was a true hub of the community. The NAACP offices were in there, the Black theater was in there, there was a meeting hall … everything was in that building.”

Efforts are being made to restore the facility. At 2 p.m. on Saturday following the sign dedication, tours will be offered inside the historic Pythian Building.

Scott said Juneteenth is a day to be observed like Memorial Day or Veterans Day — holidays that carry a sense of remembrance and important history with them. He said he hopes the public takes part in the events planned for the upcoming days and hopes that many people think of Juneteenth a little differently. It’s not just a “Black holiday,” he said.

“It’s an American holiday that I think everyone in the community will be able to celebrate,” he said. “It’s a day of observation, remembrance, celebration and solidarity. It’s a day when folks can look back at the circumstances that brought Juneteenth to light and made it a holiday as distant past things, and celebrate the progress that we’re making now. Even if it doesn’t feel like we’re making progress currently, we can at least take a day to acknowledge some of the progress that we have made and then make plans to continue progress into the future.”

In issuing the Juneteenth proclamation this week, the mayor noted that Juneteenth was first celebrated on June 19, 1865, when Union Gen. Gordon Granger in Galveston, Texas, announced the end of the Civil War and informed enslaved residents of their freedom — more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln had delivered the Emancipation Proclamation promising the same.

“Since 2019, Wheeling has formally recognized the Juneteenth holiday with a formal ceremony held at the site of the former slave auction block at 10th and Market streets, followed by educational and entertainment activities,” Magruder said. “Historically, Juneteenth has been a day of remembrance and reflection — a time to celebrate African American history, culture and contributions while emphasizing the promises of freedom, opportunity and equality for all people.”