Mark your calendars to attend the upcoming Annual Cherokee County Juneteenth Parade on Saturday, June 14, 2014.  Line up behind Austin Bank at 10:45 AM and the parade starts @11:00 AM in downtown Rusk.

June 19, 1865 more than 250,000 slaves in Texas, who had been the personal property of slave masters, were freed.  This historical event took place two years after the signing of The Emancipation Proclamation which declared all slaves in the United States of America to be free.  The Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863.  This year, 147 years later, we celebrate that freedom.

We invite you to join in with us in celebrating this important event in the history of Texas on Saturday, June 14, 2014. The day's activities will begin with a parade through downtown Rusk at 11:00 0'clock A. M. and will end at The I. C. Conley Park on Reeder Street. Lineup will begin about 10:45 AM behind Austin Bank.  You are invited to drive your car, truck, etc. in the parade. 

The annual program will begin immediately after the parade and will be held inside Mt. Pleasant CME Church, next door to the park.  Daphne Session, Houston County Attorney, Crockett, Texas and Ralph Carter, retired U. S. Postal Services, Houston, Texas will be the speakers.   Refreshments will be served in the park immediately after the program.

We extend to you a warm invitation and we hope you will be able to join us in celebrating this historical event.