LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — The Lima community came together Saturday to celebrate Juneteenth with a parade, music and a message of unity during a daylong celebration in downtown Lima.
The festivities began with a parade down Main Street that featured around 100 participants. Groups, businesses and individuals walked, waved and rode along the parade route as spectators gathered to celebrate the national holiday. Members of the Juneteenth Lima Committee said they were thankful for both the favorable weather and the strong community support.
“It just brings the community together and just everybody representing our community which we love and serve and just bring a unity and pride. People coming together from the community just joining together and togetherness said the weather end up being so beautiful and we're so thankful of it,” said Lachell James of the Juneteenth Lima Committee.
Lima's oldest bar, the Boilermaker, also participated in the parade to share its message that music can bring people together.
“We love to get out and see people. We had so much fun with it last year. We looked to work a little harder this year and we're going to work even harder next year,” said Leiah Johnson, owner of the Boilermaker.
This marked the second year that the Juneteenth parade served as the kickoff event for Lima's Juneteenth celebration.
