Special Guest to Join City of Tampa Annual Juneteenth Celebration News City Council, News Emergency Management, News General, News Tampa Fire Rescue Special Guest to Join City[...]

Community members across Tampa will gather on Friday, June 12, for the City of Tampa's Annual Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony.

This year's event will feature a special appearance by Benjamin Haith, the designer of the national Juneteenth Flag, which was created in 1997 as a symbol of the Juneteenth holiday and a celebration of freedom. Haith will also serve as the ceremony's guest speaker.

"When the creator of the Juneteenth Flag steps into Tampa, history is not just visiting our city, history is standing in our presence," said Tampa Bay Juneteenth Coalition President Pastor Philetha Tucker-Johnson. "Ben Haith did not simply create a flag; he created a symbol that carries the heartbeat of freedom, resilience, remembrance, and unfinished purpose for generations across America. On behalf of the Tampa Bay Juneteenth Coalition, we are honored to welcome the visionary whose design transformed Juneteenth into a global visual declaration that freedom belongs to all people."

The flag raising ceremony will take place at the City Center at Hanna Avenue, located at 2555 E. Hanna Avenue, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Tampa District 5 City Councilwoman Naya Young will join the Tampa Bay Juneteenth Coalition to raise the flag. The program will also feature appearances and participation from the Blake High School ROTC, Ms. Juneteenth and Little Ms. Juneteenth, members of the Tampa Bay Juneteenth Coalition, and the Buffalo Soldiers.

Following the ceremony, attendees are invited to continue the celebration at a wellness fair on site, featuring community resources, live music, free food (while supplies last), in addition to a CPR demonstration led by Tampa Fire Rescue Special Operations Chief Robert Collins, a "Strong Over 50" fitness demonstration with MM Fitness, and access to the ACTS Resource Van.

Attendees can also connect with representatives from the City of Tampa's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Tampa Office of Human Rights, as well as community partners including the University of South Florida Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute, the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Hillsborough County, Axiom, and more.

The event is free and open to the public.