More than 300 residents, officials, students, dancers, steel drum performers, vendors, and others came out on Saturday the 13th for the annual Hyde Park Juneteenth Celebration put on by Together Hyde Park at the Francis D. Martini Memorial Shell Park and Moynihan Recreation Area.

Organizer and West Fairmount Hill Community Group Chair Marcia Kimm-Jackson said the day was just a little hot, but it was far better than the rain the community had to deal with at last year’s event.

“It was still really challenging, but we got it done,” she said. “We were praying the weather would cooperate. We need to be out in the sun, for so many reasons. Of course we need the vitamin D, but the life and light from the sunshine that we need was there. It really drew people out, and it was a little warmer than we might like, but we enjoy being in the sun. It’s an opportunity for us to really take in nature and celebrate, in an organic way, what it means to acknowledge the emancipation of slavery and the promise of full freedom. It was good to be out, definitely.”

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu came to the event, and said she is working to keep Juneteenth and related causes in their rightful standing, alluding to recent events, where the Federal Administration has begun taking down recognition of leaders of the Civil Rights Movement – https://gvimes.link/prkscvlrghts

“What the law says matters,” she said. “The impact that we experience every day, that’s what you’re doing here in Hyde Park and that’s what we’re going to continue to try to do. Thank you for making Boston Boston, and Happy Juneteenth.”

“Mayor Wu always shows up for Hyde Park,” Kimm-Jackson said.

Wu also read from Frederick Douglass’ ‘What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?’, which was read by numerous people throughout the day.

“They love their country better than their own private interests, and all will concede that it is a rare virtue that ought to command respect,” she read. “He who will intelligently lay down his life for his country is a man whom it is not in human nature to despise. Your fathers staked their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor on the cause of their country. In their admiration of liberty, they lost sight of all other interests.”

Resident Amber Steele said she came out to support her daughter, who performed during the celebration.

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“It also happens to be my birthday, which is cool,” she said. “But I think this Juneteenth is great. I think the community should do more stuff like this.”

Resident Joanne Freeman said she came because a high school friend was tabling and so she decided to come down from Mattapan and support her.

“I did my walk this morning at Franklin Park and I thought I’d pop in,” she said. “This is my first Hyde Park Juneteenth. It’s just beautiful to see so many folks out here. It could always be more, the word could be shared more, but it’s just a great, great piece of community.”

Resident Ernest Sandefer said he just saw the event on Instagram and found a friend tabling for the Community Gardens.

“I just figured why not?” he said. “I just got here, but so far so good. It looks pretty lively to me.”

Resident Junior Tomlinson said he came out for the first time this year and thought it was “a good bit of fun.”

“I came out to enjoy myself and it’s my first time, so I don’t know much about it,” he said. “It’s good so far.”