by James Coulter
This Fourth of July marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence–
America’s bold announcement that “all men are created equal” and endowed with the right to
freedom.
But in 1776, that promise was painfully incomplete, as millions of black Americans were still enslaved, denied both freedom and equality. It would take another 87 years and a Civil War before the Emancipation Proclamation extended that long‑delayed promise, declaring the end of
slavery in the United States.
Each year on June 19th, we commemorate that moment through Juneteenth, a celebration often
described as America’s “second Independence Day.”
If July 4th marks freedom from tyranny, Juneteenth marks freedom from bondage, completing the story of American liberty.
Haines City is one of many cities across Polk County hosting Juneteenth celebrations. The city is
hosting a week of events organized by the Haines City Juneteenth Heritage Coalition.
The weeklong celebration will conclude with two major events: the Black Tie Gala at the Lake Eva Event Center on Friday, June 19, at 7 p.m., and the Music Festival at Lake Eva Park on Saturday, June 20, beginning at 4 p.m. The Black Tie Gala will be a formal evening featuring live music, motivational words from guest speaker Dr. Marvin Pits, and an array of food, art, and cultural showcases.
The following day’s Music Festival will bring the celebration outdoors with performances from
several local bands and artists, capped by a headlining set from Koffie, an international
performer born and raised in Haines City. Festivalgoers can also enjoy food trucks, arts and
crafts vendors, and a fireworks finale to close out the night.
Haines City’s Juneteenth celebration was spearheaded by several local non-profits coming
together to form the Haines City Juneteenth Heritage Coalition in 2021. Since then, the event has
expanded with new festivities added every year, including parades, music festivals, and essay
writing contests.
President and CEO Cynthia Downing has been with the coalition since its inception and has seen
the overall event grow every year. She appreciates being able to help organize an event that
brings the community together to celebrate unity and diversity.
“We bring people together to learn about Juneteenth, as well as unity about the culture, and
different festivities to bring the community together,” she said.
Her favorite aspect is the Black Tie Gala, being able to see everyone, especially local officials, in
their best formal attire to enjoy an evening of art, culture, music, and food.
As with previous events, her expectation for this year is to see the celebration continue to expand
with more festivities and even more attendees.
“Our expectation is for it to be bigger and better,” she said. “Each year builds upon itself, and so
this year, we have a full coalition involved, and we did a little differently, so we are looking for it
to be bigger and better and to educate the community about Juneteenth and unity.”
Recently, Cynthia Downing appeared on the Chattin on the Ridge podcast to discuss this year’s
Juneteenth celebration.
Listen to the full episode on Acast: https://shows.acast.com/chattin-onthe-ridge/episodes/ep-86-haines-city-juneteenth-2026-wcynthia-downin
