While Riverbank City Hall, banks, the post office, and other businesses were closed for the holiday on Monday, downtown Riverbank celebrated Juneteenth with music, food and vendors of several types at the Plaza del Rio Park.

Juneteenth (officially Juneteenth National Independence Day) is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.

Deriving its name from combining June and nineteenth, it is celebrated on the anniversary of the order by Major General Gordon Granger proclaiming freedom for enslaved people in Texas on June 19, 1865 (two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued).

Originating in Galveston, Juneteenth has since been observed annually in various parts of the United States, often broadly celebrating African-American culture. The day was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law.

This was the first celebration in Riverbank.

With music on the Plaza stage, featuring My Soul To Keep in the morning and Valley Rhythm Section in the afternoon, the warm sun didn’t seem to hinder participants nor the audience, both easily seeking a bit of refuge in the ample shade from park trees, as well as tents erected over the stage to shelter the musicians.

Vendor booths were scattered across the half block between the park and City Hall North, with garments, jewelry and food available to shoppers. The booths were operated by area businesses, some from Modesto and Stockton.

Band leader and drummer Earl Evans noted that his group formed in 2000, when they got to perform for the Gallo Center for the Arts opening. He said they were able to get in 15 songs, in styles ranging from old school, to R&B, Latin, jazz and funk, most performed by his vocal duo.

They sang both solos and in harmony in the various styles mentioned. And part of the last song saw the individual band members being introduced, showing off their own solo styles.