Join staff at Historic Oak View County Park throughout the month of June for special programs and events honoring Juneteenth.

Self-Guided Activities (June 1–30)

Juneteenth StoryWalk

Oak View's brick walkways will feature the children's book "Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth" by Alice Faye Duncan (author) and Keturah A. Bobo (illustrator).

Black activist Opal Lee had a vision of Juneteenth as a holiday for everyone. This true story celebrates Black joy and inspires children to see their dreams blossom. Growing up in Texas, Opal knew the history of Juneteenth, but she soon discovered that many Americans had never heard of the holiday. Join Opal on her historic journey to recognize and celebrate "freedom for all."

StoryWalk^® at Oak View is free, requires no advanced registration, and is open during the park's normal hours of operation. The StoryWalk^® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont, and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.

Juneteenth Freedom Stories walking trail

All month long, the park will display a special self-guided Juneteenth Freedom Stories walking trail, featuring interpretive panels about the history of Juneteenth and the stories of how the enslaved community at Oak View experienced the transition from slavery to freedom. The display is located on the park's brick walkways, starting after the StoryWalk^® and ending at the 1870s tenant house.

Staff-Led Programs

Juneteenth Storytime

Join us for storytime at Oak View! Learn about the significance of Juneteenth and the celebration of freedom from slavery. We'll read the children's book "Juneteenth for Mazie" and visit the tenant house to learn about what freedom meant to the enslaved community at Oak View. Participants will create a take-home reminder by decorating their own Juneteenth flag. Free and open to all ages, recommended for ages 4–8. Registration is required for all participants.
Register here

Seeds of Freedom: Juneteenth at Oak View

Join us at Oak View for a walking tour focused on the history of Juneteenth and how the transition from slavery to freedom was experienced by Oak View's enslaved community. Discover stories of how African American families celebrated their liberation and the steps they took to plant seeds of freedom for themselves and their descendants. After the tour, participants will be invited to fold their own seed packet and reflect on what freedom means to them. Free and open to all ages, recommended for ages 4th grade and up. Registration is required for all participants.
Register here