Even in the rain, Juneteenth fair goers rallied walking up and down Dr. Martin Luther King Drive from Burleigh to Center Street on Tuesday.
Vendors selling everything from clothing to food were present. Educational opportunities were available, for instance, the Milwaukee Fire Department brought their Survive Alive Fire Safety House.
Fire House Engine 36's Lieutenant Kelly Winfrey says having the firehouse at Juneteenth is a great way to reach many kids who are at home over summer vacation. The Survive Alive House teaches children, in a realistic setting, what to do in case of a house fire.
"We're providing a great service for them, to just give them some alertness, some awareness of what we can do. What we need to do when a house fire is present," said Winfrey.
He says those without working smoke detectors should call (414) 286-8980, the department will come to your neighborhood and install smoke detectors for free.
Juneteenth children weren't the only ones getting helpful advice. The Milwaukee Justice Center's Mobil Legal Clinic gave free legal advice to everyone.
Wisconsin lawyers like Shannon Allen from DeWitt Ross & Stevens Law Firm volunteer at the mobile clinic. Allen says knowing how important legal help is for people in need is why she volunteers once a month with the Milwaukee Justice Center.
"We're able to point [people in need] in a direction. Sometimes they need to get to a particular lawyer that has a specialized area or maybe they need a social services referral," said Allen.
The Juneteenth Festival happens every June 19 to celebrate the abolition of slavery in the state of Texas. Milwaukee's Juneteenth Day does that while also working to uplift the community.
