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Published Jun 18, 2026Updated Jun 191
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Fort Dodge to Celebrate Juneteenth with Community Events at Meriwether Park
Fort Dodge will host a public Juneteenth celebration on Saturday at Meriwether Park, organized by the Pleasant Valley Awareness Committee. The event will feature an adult basketball tournament, a car show, vendors, and a remembrance ceremony to honor the end of slavery in 1865 and celebrate African American heritage. Organizers describe it as a community-wide celebration of history and progress.
Quick Facts
- Juneteenth celebration
- adult basketball tournament
- car show
- vendor fair
- remembrance ceremony
Fort Dodge will mark Juneteenth this Saturday with a public celebration organized by the Pleasant Valley Awareness Committee. The event, which will take place at Meriwether Park, aims to commemorate the historic day in 1865 when Union troops in Galveston, Texas, declared the end of slavery in the United States. Organizers say it is a time to honor the struggles and achievements of ancestors while celebrating community and cultural heritage.
Juneteenth, which became a federal holiday in 2021, commemorates June 19, 1865, the date Union soldiers arrived in Galveston and announced that all enslaved people in Texas were free. This day is widely regarded as the symbolic end of slavery in the United States, though the Thirteenth Amendment formally abolished it later that year. Sherry Washington, co-organizer and member of the Pleasant Valley Awareness Committee, described the holiday as an opportunity to reflect on progress and to celebrate ancestry.
The main attraction of the local event will be an adult basketball tournament organized by Murphy Washington. The tournament, beginning at 9 a.m., will feature teams from Fort Dodge, Ames, and Chicago. According to Sherry Washington, the tournament will be the first official event on the newly renovated basketball court at Meriwether Park. The court underwent a major upgrade last year, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking its completion. The $442,000 project was carried out by Nels Pederson Co. Inc. of Badger.
In addition to the basketball tournament, the celebration will include a car show and a variety of vendors offering food and merchandise throughout the day. A short remembrance ceremony is planned to honor the historical significance of Juneteenth, though no specific time has been set. "It's really a time to come and celebrate the day in remembrance of our history," said Washington. "It is a historical day. It's something to be celebrated, as we stand on the shoulders of our ancestors who paved the way and made this day possible for all."
Washington emphasized that the event is a collective celebration open to the entire community. "We didn't get here by ourselves," she added. "That being said, it's a collective celebration for all." The event will take place at Meriwether Park, located at 900 Fifth Ave. S.W. in the Pleasant Valley neighborhood of Fort Dodge.
Why This Matters
This event is significant for readers as it provides a clear, local example of how Juneteenth is being commemorated in a small American city, highlighting both historical awareness and community engagement. It offers concrete details such as the basketball tournament on a newly renovated court, a car show, and vendors, which can be useful for planning similar events or understanding the grassroots nature of such celebrations. The emphasis on collective celebration underscores the inclusive aspect of Juneteenth, making it relevant for readers interested in community-building and cultural heritage.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 19, 1865
WireUnion troops entered Galveston, Texas, and declared all enslaved people free
Jan 1, 2021
WireJuneteenth became a federal holiday in the United States
Jun 18, 2026
WireArticle published announcing the Juneteenth celebration
Jun 20, 2026
WireJuneteenth celebration scheduled at Meriwether Park, including basketball tournament, car show, vendors, and remembrance ceremony