Juneteenth in Ocala

FILE PHOTO: Tanesha Mills, Latoya Rush, Wanda Fulton, Dr. Nicole Thornton at the dinner/dance fundraiser on June 19, 2021. [Becky Collazo]

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Two Juneteenth celebrations will take place in Ocala on Saturday, June 18:

* The Ocala Juneteenth Celebration Commission and the City of Ocala will host an event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Webb Field at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex, 1510 N.W. 4th St., Ocala. It will include entertainment, vendors, nonprofits, businesses and mentor groups. Funds from sponsorships will provide scholarships for local high school seniors for acceptance into a university, college or vocational program. The event is free to attend.

* R.A.M.A.L. (Reach, Aim, Motivate and Lead Educational and Social Services, Inc.) will present a dinner/dance fundraiser at 7 p.m. at One Health Center, 1714 S.W. 17th St., Ocala, with entertainment, a silent auction and raffles. The cost is $50 per person and tickets are available at Eventbrite.com. Proceeds will benefit community projects, scholarships for at-risk and nontraditional students, tutoring and mentoring.

Juneteenth is a time for reflection of Black freedom and emphasizes education and achievements. To learn more, go to fb.com/OcalaJuneteenthCelebration/ and ramalservices.org.