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 Build a House by Rhiannon Giddens (Author) and Monica Mikai (Illustrator).
Written as a song to commemorate the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth, Build a House tells the moving story of a people who would not be moved and the music that sustained them. Steeped in sorrow and joy, resilience and resolve, turmoil and transcendence, this dramatic debut offers a proud view of history and a vital message for readers of all ages: honor your heritage, express your truth, and let your voice soar, even—or perhaps especially—when your heart is heaviest.
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 on Thursday, June 13th at 11 a.m. for storytime at Historic Oak View! Learn about the significance of Juneteenth and its commemoration of freedom from slavery. We'll read 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 and visit the 1870s tenant house to learn about what freedom meant to the newly-emancipated people at Oak View. Participants will create a take-home reminder by decorating their own Juneteenth flag craft. Free and open to all ages, recommended for ages 4-9. 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.
Choose from multiple dates and times:
- Wednesday, June 19th at 10:30 a.m.
- Saturday, June 22nd at 10:30 a.m.
- Sunday, June 23rd at 2 p.m.