I went out to the 2nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration Weekend on Friday, June 19, camera in hand, and had a wonderful time soaking in the joy, music, and community spirit.
Here are some of my favorite photos from the day.
Happy Juneteenth!
-Ashley RK Smith
The first thing I notice at every festival is the food. Who doesn’t enjoy the oh-so-delicious, but extremely unhealthy, deep-fried fair cuisine?
I was drawn to the orange, especially with the sun behind it. The parallel lines of the bags, and the woman also called to me.
With a festival full of rides, food, and games going on just steps away, this boy found his favorite spot in a tree.
The bright yellow of the ride cut against a clear blue sky, tilted at an angle that made my own stomach drop a little.
A father swinging his daughter around, her face full of pure trust and joy as she held on tight.
The bold colors of the Ferris wheel’s cars set against the curve of its frame and a wide open sky.
A woman watches the kids playing in the fun house, framed by its bright orange entrance.
The sharp angles of the fun house roofline against a sky with just one cloud to keep it company.
Three girls caught in golden light, buzzing with excitement to take their turn at the dart game.
A girl mid-laugh on the Scrambler.
A little girl lost in her own world, chasing after a ball in the golden evening grass.
A puddle in the rides area holding its own upside-down carousel, gold and color rippling in the water.
A mother and daughter taking a break from the crowd, sharing some ice cream curbside in the last of the evening light.
A little girl taking in the sights from her tractor seat, wide-eyed and clearly enjoying the ride.
A couple getting their caricatures drawn, her smile already part of the artwork before the artist even finished.
A little boy holding tight to his red balloon, not quite ready for the day to be over yet.
Riders tucked inside a swinging cage high above the fairgrounds, the deep blue sky stretching out behind them
The bright signs of Candy Land, all popcorn and cotton candy, framed by the curve of a nearby ride.
Two kids racing down the giant slide.
A quiet moment as a carnival worker let a little girl take her turn at the dart game.
Riders perched high above the fairgrounds, framed by the crisscrossing steel of the Ferris wheel at sunset.
A man hard at work behind the table at Popop’s Fried Fish, focused on getting it just right.
A father kept his daughter steady on the carousel horse, her smile making clear she felt safe and enjoyed every second.
A young girl sits patiently as an artist turns her face into a butterfly, one careful brushstroke at a time.
The sun setting behind the rides as I headed out, the day’s celebration winding down into evening.
The flag was catching the last light on my walk back to the car.
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