There's a particular kind of energy at Shelter 5 in MLK Jr. Park during Buffalo's Juneteenth Celebration each year. Children crowd around tables brimmed with young plants. Presenters share knowledge about home remedies and food boxes. Urban farmers and researchers and food justice leaders stand side by side, talking about land and health and history. This is the Juneteenth Agricultural Pavilion.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Buffalo's Juneteenth Celebration, the third largest Juneteenth celebration in the world. The Juneteenth Agricultural Pavilion, now in its eighth year, uplifts the connection between Juneteenth and agriculture, and that connection goes deep. At this event each year, Black people and families come together around seeds, soil, and food justice, to honor that history of Juneteenth, and reclaim something that was stolen; their relationship with land, agriculture, and freedom.
"As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the festival, the pavilion serves as both a reflection and a reminder—honoring the resilience and contributions of those who came before us while inspiring future generations to see themselves as leaders, innovators, and changemakers. This milestone year is an opportunity to celebrate our history, strengthen community connections, and cultivate a vision for the next 50 years," said Jaime Swygert, founder and chair of the Juneteenth Agricultural Pavilion.