Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. and was declared a federal holiday in 2021. It’s celebrated on June 19, which falls on a Wednesday this year — but Bellingham is celebrating Juneteenth all week long.
Happenings include a block party, flag raising, community gathering at Lake Padden and even a soul food jamboree at Cafe Blue. In advance of the holiday, we spoke to organizers to learn more about three events — as well as the people who make them possible.
Mo Green and Daija Heyward (Two BB Productions): Juneteenth Block Party
Attendees at last year’s Commercial Street block parties likely know Mo Green, aka the creative force behind cosplay and beauty company Mo’s Parlor. Though she’s since closed her downtown brick-and-mortar, Green is as busy as ever — and in addition to running her own businesses, she’s teamed up with Daija Heyward to create event company Two BB Productions.
Heyward and Green have been collaborating on events for years and made their partnership official last Halloween. Their goal with Two BB Productions is to create spaces for people of color to both feel safe and be themselves. This year, they’re taking the reins on the Commercial Street summer block parties — and just in time for Juneteenth.
“Having events that are Black-led makes a difference for the Black community, just knowing that they’re out there,” Green said. “We’ve had very positive feedback from everyone involved.”
The June 14 installment of the Commercial Street Block Party is Juneteenth-themed and features a Black-owned business spotlight, tattoo artist spotlight, face painting, chalk art, a DJ and food trucks. (Notably, all food vendors — Lumpia Luv, Brandywine Kitchen, and That’s What I Like! Island Grill — are BIPOC-owned.)
But the festivities don’t stop there: The July block party has a similar lineup and is Pride-themed, featuring drag performances as well as a queer-owned business spotlight. The August market is anime-themed with cosplay, flash tattoos and a performance from Seattle neo-soul group Hard Maybe (wearing cosplay made by Green, of course).
Two BB Productions have already hosted a wide range of events in 2024, including a Mother’s Day market in May, a 4/20 party in April and a BIPOC market in February. Looking ahead at the block parties, Heyward and Green are excited to highlight downtown businesses and bring more awareness to BIPOC vendors, so “people know that there’s so much more out there.”
“I think this is one of the more bigger-scale events that we do, and it is one that brings in such a fabulous group of people,” Heyward said. “That downtown energy is unmatched, especially on a summer evening.”
The Commercial Street Block party happens June 14, July 19 and Aug. 9 from 6–9 p.m. in downtown Bellingham. Info: instagram.com/2bbproductions.
Jon James (Hella Bomb): Soul Food Jamboree and Market
Less than a week later, Two BB Productions will team up with Chef Jon James of catering company Hella Good to offer a Soul Food Jamboree event at Cafe Blue in Fairhaven. In addition to vendor booths from Black-owned businesses, James will be whipping up soul food plates like red beans and rice and smothered chicken with collard greens and bacon.
James and his wife, Heidi, moved to Bellingham from Oakland two years ago; while his current focus is catering, his ultimate dream is to open a food truck. A self-described introvert, he credits Green with pushing him to launch a catering company.
James’ cooking could be described as homestyle comfort food — or, as he puts it, “Good, hearty meals that you’ll eat, and then you’ll feel like I need a nap afterwards.” His specialties range from BBQ ribs to pulled pork sandwiches, though Heidi’s personal favorite is the Hella Bomb Burger, a meatloaf burger stuffed with ingredients like peppers and onions. (“You’ve never had a burger like it, guaranteed,” she said.)
James credits the women in his life for showing him around the kitchen, especially his mother, aunts and — perhaps most notably — his grandmother. After making a meal, she would “immediately sit in the corner just to watch people eat, and see the smiles come around,” James said.
Ahead of the event, James is excited to see people of color come together to celebrate Juneteenth, and hopes all community members will take the opportunity to learn about Black culture. And while dishes like collard greens are rooted in complex history, he hopes diners will “look past the past to the future, because hate shouldn’t exist.”
James expects the jamboree to be the biggest he’s ever catered — and his family is even flying in from Arkansas for the occasion. He’s most looking forward to soaking up the atmosphere and watching diners savor the dishes he so lovingly creates. “I like seeing the smiles, like my grandma,” he said.
The Soul Food Jamboree and Market will be from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 19 at Cafe Blue (1319 11th St.). Info: instagram.com/cafebluefairhaven.
Miracle Jones (Miraculous Eventz): Boulevard Park Juneteenth Celebration
The celebrations continue Saturday, June 22 at Boulevard Park, with a Juneteenth event featuring everything from speakers to entertainment, children’s activities, roughly 30 vendors and — of course —plenty of food. All this is made possible by Miracle Jones, owner of Miraculous Braidz & Beauty and Miraculous Eventz.
Jones moved to Bellingham from California seven years ago, and in October 2020, she opened a brick-and-mortar for Miraculous Braidz with just one chair and zero expectations. At the time, Jones was unsure if there would be enough clientele for her business to thrive — but despite apprehensions, she was floored by the level of community support.
“Being Black and coming into this town, I did not expect the love that I would receive, and I feel it hard,” Jones said.
In retrospect, Jones sees her work with Miraculous Braidz as the first in a series of steps toward community-building — and she’s more than excited to jump into this “new world” of events. She began by offering free face-painting sessions and smaller gatherings before “testing the waters” with the first Juneteenth celebration in 2023.
Jones said last year’s celebration was a smashing success, with hundreds of community members showing up to celebrate Juneteenth and honor the Black community. She organized it alone, despite being two days away from giving birth on the day of the event. This year Jones is working alongside her assistant, Eva Marshall, to organize the celebration — and June 22 happens to be her daughter’s first birthday.
This year’s event features food from vendors including the Mobile Mouth Hole and Mix Masala, as well as games, face painting, live entertainers, a DJ and artisan vendors. Realtor Devante Blow will speak about Black business, while Lummi Nation principal Kevin Villars will speak about the importance of education. Alvera Blow will speak about mental health in the Black community, and Roots of Empathy will also be present.
On a personal level, Jones is especially looking forward to the live entertainment. During last year’s event, she said, “I cried during it for a little bit seeing the guys breakdance. It just felt like, dang — this all came together.”
The Juneteenth Celebration runs from 2–6 p.m. at Boulevard Park (470 Bayview Drive). Info: facebook.com/miraculouseventz. For a full Juneteenth roundup, visit wwu.edu/juneteenth.
Cocoa Laney is CDN’s lifestyle editor; reach her at cocoalaney@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 128.
