For more information visit www.facebook.com/Bethel.Island.Chamber.

Live entertainment, dunk tank and fireworks will happen

Activities begin at 6:00 p.m.

Watch the Dunk Tank Fundraiser Livestream on Instagram @antiochrec_ca

By City of Antioch

After announcing earlier Tuesday, July 2, 2024, that the annual July 4th “parade and festivities are moving forward as planned” as of 6:05 p.m., the City of Antioch changed course and issued cancelled the parade and issued the following announcement:

The City of Antioch is cancelling the Independence Day Parade because of forecasted hot weather. The US National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area/Monterey California issued an excessive heat warning and heat advisory that will remain in effect until July 9th at 11:00 p.m.

The remainder of the event will start at 6:00 p.m. in historic Rivertown. Families can enjoy rides and games along with our dunk tank fundraiser in the Kids Zone, music by Universal Soul and Foreverland, and Food Truck Thursdays by the Foodie Crew, followed by our spectacular fireworks show over the Delta at 9:15 p.m.

Thank you to our community for your patience. Please stay cool and be safe this 4th of July!”

The National Weather Service for the San Francisco Bay Area/Monterey California issued the following Tuesday afternoon:

“An Excessive Heat Warning and a Heat Advisory is in effect now until 11 PM NEXT Tuesday. San Francisco will be under a Heat Advisory now until 7 PM Thursday. High temperatures in the upper 90s to near 110 are expected in the Excessive Heat Warning, while highs from the lower 80s to mid-90s are expected within the Heat Advisory. In addition, limited overnight cooling is expected for areas away from the immediate coast and in higher terrain. Never leave people or pets in vehicles! Limit outdoor activities during the afternoon and evening. Stay hydrated and take cooling breaks.”

As previously reported, two cooling centers plus, hydrating and misting stations in Rivertown will be provided during the celebration.

·Cooling Centers: City Hall and the Nick Rodriguez Community Center will be open as cooling centers during the event.

·Misting Stations: Stay refreshed with misting stations located throughout festivity locations.

·Hydration Stations: Free water stations will be available to keep you hydrated throughout the day.

4 PM “parade and festivities are moving forward as planned”

City will offer options to beat the heat

By Allen Payton

In a post on its Facebook page today, Tuesday, July 2, 2024, the City of Antioch wrote, “We’re excited to celebrate Independence Day with you this year. Despite the expected high temperatures, our July 4th parade and festivities are moving forward as planned.

That’s in spite of the temperature forecast of 104 degrees that day.

The post continued, “Your safety is our priority. City of Antioch Recreation Department will offer additional resources to help you beat the heat:

·Cooling Centers: City Hall and the Nick Rodriguez Community Center will be open as cooling centers during the event. (See related article)

·Misting Stations: Stay refreshed with misting stations located throughout festivity locations.

·Hydration Stations: Free water stations will be available to keep you hydrated throughout the day.”

For more information about the parade, live entertainment, dunk tank, fireworks and more visit Celebrate
America’s 248th Independence Day on July 4th in Antioch.

Lumpy’s Diner Spring Car Show hosted by the Midnighters Nor Cal Car Club. Car registration is from 8am-10am. First come, first served. Registration fee is $30 at the Midnighters booth. Open to all years, makes and models. Show starts at 10am and awards at 2pm.

Come out and join the community to enjoy all the beautiful cars, vendors, music and delicious food!

Lumpy’s Diner is located at 5891 Lone Tree Way in Antioch. See you there!

Parade, Live Music by Universal Soul and fan favorite Foreverland, Kids Zone, Dunk Tank Fundraiser, Food Trucks or Dine at local restaurants in historic, downtown

Parade entries, Dunk Tank participation deadline: June 24

By City of Antioch Recreation Department

Join the City of Antioch in celebrating America’s 248th Independence Day in our historic, downtown Rivertown. Set up along W. 2nd and W. 3rd Streets. before 4:00 PM to watch our annual 4th of July Parade pass by. Visit Waldie Plaza to experience live entertainment and enjoy local food vendors and trucks.

Have an exciting time with friends and family in the Kids Zone located at City Hall, before picking your spot to see the big fireworks show at dusk.

Celebration Site

The main celebration site will take place in Waldie Plaza and the parking lot of City Hall, encompassing W. 2nd to W. 3rd Streets and G to I Sreets. There are many occurrences within the celebration site including a live entertainment stage, local vendors, Kids Zone, food trucks – or dine at one of the restaurants in the Rivertown Dining District, DJ stage and much more.

Parade Route

The parade will begin at the intersection of W. 2nd and E Streets at 4:00 PM. The Judge’s Station will be located at the center of Waldie Plaza. A second parade performance stop will be on W. 3rd Street next to City Hall. We will finish the parade on W. 3rd Street at the corner of D Street.

Register for the Fourth of July Parade

Parade Entry Information

Independence Day is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate our community spirit than by joining our annual Fourth of July parade! Whether you’re young or young at heart, a solo walker or part of a group, this parade is for everyone! From classic cars and colorful floats to decorated bicycles and festive performances, let your creativity shine as we come together as a community to celebrate this Fourth of July! The deadline to submit parade applications is Monday, June 24th.

For more information and to register to enter the parade, here. There is no entry fee; participation is free.

Live Entertainment – Universal Soul and Foreverland

Universal Soul

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KxyGB-bOIco
Also known as the House Band for the Golden State Warriors, Universal Soul is known for their ability to excite a crowd with their soulful and lively performances. Consisting of lead singer, Leah Marie Vox, George Epps on keys, Dante’ TAZ on the drums, and Brain Turner on the bass, Universal soul is just the group to kick off our Fourth of July Celebration!

Foreverland – The Electrifying Tribute to Michael Jackson returns to Antioch!

https://foreverland.com/
Since 2009, Foreverland has been mesmerizing audiences around the country with their larger-than-life tribute to the one and only Michael Jackson. Featuring three dynamic vocalists, a powerhouse rhythm section, and the hardest working horn section in the biz, Foreverland recreates hits from the Jackson 5 era through the end of Michael’s incredible career in a way that honors the King of Pop’s musical genius and legendary showmanship like no other tribute band has ever done.” Read more about Foreverland when you click here.

Dunk Tank Fundraiser Participation & Information

Sign Up to Take the Plunge!

What better way to celebrate Independence Day than by making a splash and raising funds for a fantastic cause?! By participating in our Dunk Tank event, you’ll not only have a blast but also contribute to providing scholarships for youth and adults to participate in recreational activities they might not otherwise have access to. Not interested in sitting in the tank? Get involved by donating to the cause! As you attend our Fourth of July Celebration, stop by the Kids Zone to take your turn trying to sink the sitter! Cheer on our throwers and our volunteers as we raise money to continue to provide recreational opportunities for residents, young and young at heart! The deadline to sign up to take the plunge is Monday, June 24th.

ENTRY

Participation is free. Participants must submit TWO preferred timeslot options and a signed general liability waiver by June 24, 2024 to confirm their spot. Late entries will only be considered if availability allows. No sign-ups will be accepted on the day of the event.

WHERE

City Hall parking lot (200 H Street, Antioch CA 94509). Participants should report to the recreation bus and canopy (located at the east side of city hall’s parking lot) 5-10 minutes before their sitting timeslot to receive their towel before heading to the dunk tank to take their seat.

GUIDELINES

The City of Antioch is committed to providing a safe, family-friendly environment where all people are treated with kindness and respect. We ask all participants to adhere to these guidelines:

1. ALL DUNK TANK PARTICIPANTS ARE ASKED TO WEAR A T-SHIRT AND SHORTS. No bare chests, bikinis, or speedos as staff and members of the public may take photos and record dunk tank activities.

2. Participants are not to engage in any vulgar, offensive, or sexually suggestive gestures or comments while sitting in, entering, or exiting the dunk tank.

3. Spectators are prohibited from engaging in any vulgar, offensive, or sexually suggestive gestures or comments toward sitting participants. Spectators MAY NOT throw balls or other objects at sitting contestants. Spectators who are unable to follow these rules, forfeit their remaining ball throws and will be removed from participating in the dunk tank fundraiser.

SAFETY

For the safety of sitting dunk tank participants, the tank is covered by a metal cage to prevent the possibility of being struck by a thrown ball. Recreation staff and security will be readily available to handle any potential restricted actions by dunk tank participants and/or spectators.

The tank will be filled with approximately 500 gallons of water and has a weight capacity of 250 lbs.

All ball throws will be taken from a minimum of 10ft away from the target for youth 12 & under and a maximum of 20ft away for those 13+ years of age.

Register for the Dunk Tank, here.

Antioch July 4th Schedule of Events
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM	Parade
4:00 PM – 9:00 PM	Kids Zone
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM	Live Entertainment | Universal Soul
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM	Kids Zone Stage
7:00 PM	Announcement of Parade Winners
7:15 PM – 9:15 PM	Live Entertainment | Foreverland
7:30 PM – 9:30 PM	Kids Zone Stage
9:20 PM – 9:40 PM	Fireworks Show
Times subject to change

In spite of two others being held in Antioch by non-profit organizations

Will include live music, rides, carnival games, food booths and activities

By Allen D. Payton

Confused by having three events in Antioch celebrating Juneteenth, again this year? According to the information from the City of Antioch’s Recreation Department, “This year marks the third annual city sponsored Juneteenth Celebration, where we come together as a city to honor freedom, culture, and community. Join us for a day of reflection that showcases the richness of African American heritage as we embrace the vibrancy and resiliency of Black culture. This event features live performances, music, food, activities for kids and adults, and so much more!”

The City’s event will be held on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 16 from 12:00-5:00 PM at Williamson Ranch Park at the Corner of Lone Tree Way and Hillcrest Avenue.

Two Other Juneteenth Celebrations in Antioch, Again This Year

Yet, there are two other events being held in Antioch again, this year celebrating the final end of slavery in America, both by non-profit organizations and one is completely free to the public. The first celebration will be held this Saturday, June 15th at Grace Bible Fellowship Church of Antioch, organized by their affiliated non-profit organization, Grace Arms of Antioch, for a third year in a row.

The other non-profit organized event in Antioch, and this year’s third, will be held on the actual date of the national holiday, Wednesday, June 19th (thus the name) at Paradise Skate on the grounds of the Contra Costa Event Park (fairgrounds). It is organized by Claryssa Wilson, for a fifth year in a row (although the event in 2022 was held in Brentwood) and her 4 Ever Me Foundation.

The reason the event was held in Brentwood that year was due to a control issue by the mayor, Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker, then-Interim City Manager Con Johnson and Wilson and her mother, Velma, who was supporting the mayor’s recall at the time and her husband, Claryssa’s father, was the titular chairman of the recall committee. The three city officials took the event away from the Wilsons just two months before it was to be held, by withdrawing the permit to hold it at the City’s Waldie Plaza in downtown Rivertown. (See related article)

The Celebrate Antioch Foundation stepped up to help Claryssa by providing the needed liability insurance for the event.

That same year, Grace Arms worked with the City and they held joint events on Friday night and Saturday. But last year they held separate events on separate days.

The first two hours of the City’s event is also being held the same day as, and will overlap the last two hours of, the annual Rivertown Father’s Day Car Show in Antioch’s historic downtown organized by the Celebrate Antioch Foundation, as did last year’s City sponsored Juneteenth celebration.

“What is Juneteenth?

The City’s promotional information also includes a brief history of the holiday and event, as does Grace Arms’.

“Short for June Nineteenth, Juneteenth is a holiday celebrating the 1865 emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States– marking the day when federal troops arrived in Galvenston, Texas to take control of the state and ensure the freedom of all remaining enslaved people. Texas became the first U.S. state to celebrate Juneteenth in 1979. Officially becoming a U.S. federal holiday in June of 2021, the City of Antioch is proud to present our third annual Juneteenth Celebration taking place on Sunday, June 16, 2024.”

Questions for Council and Staff

All five council members, Acting City Manager Kwame Reed and Acting Assistant City Manager and Parks & Recreation Director Brad Helfenberger were asked if the City is using taxpayer funds to pay for this year’s Juneteenth celebration. If so, why the City is hosting and paying for one when there are two organizations each holding a Juneteenth event in Antioch. They were also asked how much is being spent on this year’s event if an organization was hired to organize the event or if is being handled by city staff.

Finally, they were asked, why the City didn’t just promote either the event organized by Grace Arms on June 15th and/or the event on June 19th organized by Claryssa Wilson and her 4Ever Me Foundation which would save taxpayer money.

District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock was the only councilmember to respond writing, “we set some funds aside for events, as we do for 4th of July.”

Helfenberger offered more details. He responded, “I can confirm that, as in 2022 and 2023, this year’s event is being funded from the general fund and will cost approximately $42,000.

The event is being organized by our dedicated City staff, without the use of an outside firm.

When the event budget was established in 2022, we placed a strong emphasis on creating community-wide special events that hold cultural significance. Our goal is to foster a sense of belonging within our community and ensure that our events reflect the diversity of our residents. While we deeply appreciate the efforts of various community groups in organizing events, we believe it is important for the City to host its own events with these objectives in mind.”

Juneteenth: A Free Celebration Details

The City of Antioch’s Juneteenth: A Freedom Celebration will include live musical performances by Ariel Marin Band from 12:30-1:30 pm, Nzuri Soul from 2:00-3:00 pm and The Curtis Family C-Notes from 3:30-5:00 pm.

In addition, a variety of activities are planned, including Ballistic Swing Ride, Carnival Games, a Dominoes Tournament, Father’s Day Card Creation Station, Juneteenth Crafts, Photobooth, Rock Climbing Wall and a Super Fun 90’ Slide plus, food vendor booths. To learn more about the event visit www.antiochca.gov/juneteenth/.

UPDATE: Now featuring Stellar award-winning recording artist Lena Byrd Miles – featured on Grammy award winning albums, DJ Superb and Anthem Nights Sac.

Presented by 4ever Me Foundation, supporting the socio-emotional wellbeing of youth and young adults. For 2024 Juneteenth Vendor Registration or Donations visit 4evermefoundation | Linktree. Learn more at www.facebook.com/4evermefoundation/.

Enjoy live music from headliners The Main Ingredient and Slave

This year’s Juneteenth Celebration presented by Grace Arms of Antioch will be held on Saturday, June 15, 2024 and feature a Kids Corner, food, games, vendors and live music with headliners The Main Ingredient and Slave.

The event runs from Noon until 5:00 p.m. at the Grace Bible Fellowship of Antioch Campus, 3415 Oakley Road in Antioch. Vendor booths and sponsorships available. For more information visit http://www.gracearmsofantioch.org.

History of Juneteenth

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Though the Emancipation Proclamation was given by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, the beginning of the end of slavery wouldn’t be recognized until sometime later – June 19, 1865.

​Early celebrations date back to 1866, at first involving church-centered community gatherings in Texas. They spread across the South amongst newly freed African American slaves and their descendants and became more commercialized in the 1920s and 1930s, often centering on a food festival. Participants in the Great Migration brought these celebrations to the rest of the country. 

​The day was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. Juneteenth became the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was adopted in 1983.

​Start of Juneteenth Celebration

When the American Civil War ended, the Union Army arrived in Texas led by Major General Gordon Granger who was given command of the District of Texas on June 10, 1865. On June 19, in the city of Galveston, one of the first orders of business was to post Granger’s General Order No. 3 to inform a reluctant community that President Lincoln over two years earlier had freed the slaves and to press locals to comply with his directive. His order began with:

“The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection therefore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer.”

This set off joyous demonstrations by the freed people, originating the annual Juneteenth celebration, which commemorates the abolition of slavery in Texas. The celebration’s name is a blend of the words “June” and “nineteenth”.

​Why did it take so long for the news to get to Texas? 

 There is no one reason why there was a two-and-a-half-year delay in letting Texas know about the abolition of slavery in the United States, according to Juneteenth.com. The historical site said some accounts place the delay on a messenger who was murdered on his way to Texas with the news, while others say the news was deliberately withheld.

Due to the delay, slavery did not end in Texas overnight, according to an article by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. originally posted on The Root. Gates said after New Orleans fell, many slavers traveled to Texas with their slaves to escape regulations enforced by the Union Army in other states. 

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.