Juneteenth Celebration Brings Music, Art, Food & Community to Jackson Park in HR

Kesomi Palaki called the Juneteenth celebration at Jackson Park in Hood River an ‘awesome sense of community’ on Friday, June 19, as Black in the Gorge held its fourth annual event for the national holiday.

Story and photos By Aaron Girdham

The Dalles, Ore., June 22, 2026 — With all the aggression and stress in the world—day in and day out, week after week, reel after reel—people often forget how to be real with each other and interact on the basis of joy. The beauty of Juneteenth in the Gorge is that the animosity we see so regularly seemed non-existent in the park.

The sun shone on Jackson Park, giving it a golden glow on June 19. This added an uplifting tint to the celebration that brought music, art, food, and people together.

August Oaks and Stephanie smile for the camera at the community art booth.

“Although it may have been smaller than last year, it seems to be getting so much more momentum from our communities,” said Stephanie.

The key word for the 2026 Juneteenth celebration was liberation. Historically, June 19 was the day the last enslaved people were freed in Galveston, Texas. Today, however, we celebrate that memory with the liberation of our spirits and emotions. We take advantage of the freedom of happiness, kindness, and peace, and join together to share them.

Aristeo Isordia and Alejandro Salazar at Sunrise Juice

Thanks to the organization Black in the Gorge, the sixth annual Juneteenth celebration was open and free to people from all communities.

The event featured group participation in the Electric Slide, local food vendors, and live music.

Quincy Butler, member of Black in the Gorge, offers information onYoung Democratic Socialists of America, which actively supports Black rights as a core pillar of its platform, viewing racial justice and class liberation as deeply intertwined. The organization frequently collaborates with on-campus workers, advocates for intersectional antiracist policies, and engages in protests for civil and voting rights.

The celebration started with the mellow and soothing music of Red Elk Spirit Drum, the Gorge Freedom Choir, and singer-songwriters Marie Louise and Eva. This introduction brought a peaceful vibe to the event as people found spots to sit in the shade. Arturo Layva, the explosive LaRhonda Steele and Band, and Eldon T. Jones then brought excitement to the celebration.

Lee Sekaquaptewa at Art of a Non-Genius - Lee is a Native artist based in Wishram whose work blends cultural storytelling with imagery inspired by the Columbia River Gorge.

“It was awesome in a sense of community, but also having something like this in the Gorge is special, and I hope it begins to spread. The music was great. You can just feel the passion, you can feel the heart, the soul. I plan to attend this event for all the years it happens,” said first-time attendee Kesomi Palaki.