What To Expect At Lawton's Annual Juneteenth Celebration

Juneteenth will be celebrated across Lawton on Friday and Saturday, and the whole community is invited! Lawton's annual Juneteenth Celebration will a prayer breakfast, BBQ contest and more.

Lawton's annual Juneteenth Celebration is hosted by the City of Lawton's Juneteenth Committee, and is funded and supported partially by the City of Lawton and the Lawton Hotel-Motel Tax Fund. This year's Juneteenth Celebration will feature multiple events on Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20. All events are free and open to the public.

Lawton's annual Juneteenth Celebration will kick off with a Prayer Breakfast at the Patterson Center.

Lawton's Juneteenth Celebration will start early on Friday with a prayer breakfast from 7:45-8:45 a.m. at the Patterson Center. The celebration will continue that evening with a Panel Discussion and Gospel Music Extravaganza from 6-8 p.m. at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church.

The City of Lawton will also unveil the Dunbar Elementary School Monument on Friday, June 19.

On Friday, June 19, the City of Lawton will also unveil a new commemorative monument to honor the legacy of Dunbar Elementary School. The ceremony will honor the legacy of Dunbar School, highlight the importance of preserving history, and also serve as the grand opening of the newly renovated Harkey Park. The park was named after Lemuel Harkey, the first principal of Dunbar Elementary School.

The school building was torn down in 2025, but the City of Lawton assured residents that a monument would be placed in honor of the school and its legacy. Dunbar Elementary School is where many Black students in Lawton attended school in the 60's. Lawton Public Schools officially closed the school in 1974.

The monument unveiling on Friday, June 19, will also feature a celebration in Harkey Park with barbeque from John & Cook's, bounce house, face painting and more.

The Juneteenth Celebration will continue Saturday, June 20 with a BBQ Contest and Historical Celebration.

Lawton's Juneteenth Celebration will continue into Saturday, starting off with a BBQ Contest at Elmer Thomas Park. From 2-5 p.m. Saturday, the community can try different BBQ and enjoy vendors, a gaming truck, and bounce houses.

The Juneteenth Celebration will conclude with a Historical Celebration from 5-8 p.m. back at the Patterson Center with food, horse rides, and bounce houses.

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Gallery Credit: Kelso

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Gallery Credit: Kelso