An Instagram post from Carl Kemp, LBCC associate vice president in Public Affairs and Marketing and an organizer for the annual Juneteenth celebration, informed that the event held at Rainbow Lagoon will not be back this year or until further notice.
“Juneteenth” stems from the day Union soldiers delivered news to the last remaining slaves in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, and was three years after the 13th amendment was signed into the constitution by Abraham Lincoln and abolishing slavery.
City officials were informed about the cancellation via Kemp’s instagram post, and maintain that they reached out to him saying the venue was still available in the first weekend in June and that Kemp never secured the date, which was subsequently booked by another organizer
Kemp spoke with the Viking yesterday regarding his initial video and the conflicting statements between the city of Long Beach.
“The dates that were offered were either too early or too late,” said Kemp.
LBCC student Patricia Glover, who was previewing a Black history exhibit at LAC was unaware that the celebration was cancelled.
“Whoa, that is shocking and it’s too bad. It’s important for us as a community to continue preserving our history and celebrate things like Juneteenth,” said Glover.
While Juneteenth has been celebrated since 1866, it wasn’t until 2021 when former president Joe Biden signed legislation making the day a federal holiday.
Kemp organized and curated his vision of the celebration with roughly 3000 people in attendance in downtown Long Beach’s Pine Avenue that same year.
“(Its) been a blessing to be a part of something so big and beautiful with such a small team and able to put on such an event. Our vision of celebrating Juneteenth involved our crowds, artists and vendors to have access to sea breezes, which is why the location it has been held at has always been ideal,” said Kemp.
In 2025, the celebration secured its location and attendance reached in the upwards of 20,000 people scattered across the newly relocated event at Rainbow Lagoon with featured mainstream recording artists like Anderson Paak, Eric Benet and Marsha Ambrosius of the group Floetry.
Kemp praised those who contributed and were sponsors ranging from the Port of Long Beach, city council members and various other businesses providing in-kind donations.
The city of Long Beach is expecting an $80 million budget deficit forecasted in the fiscal 2027 year, Kemp did not suggest that Juneteenth was cancelled due to financial setbacks some are wondering if these budget cuts are related.
“[Events like these] cost a lot of money and time, our event is a labor of love with volunteers and the contributions made were a fraction in comparison to other events held in collaboration with the city,” said Kemp.
Long Beach community member Criselle Dombrowski, was present in March 10 city council meeting and expressed her concerns of city officials potential resolution of funds contracting data company LexisNexis Coplogic Solutions, who have reportedly worked with ICE as recently as 2023 and was shocked at the cancellation of Juneteenth.
“Things like housing, education, and celebrations that bring the community closer like Juneteenth are where our money should be spent, not on contracts with companies that have also previously worked with ICE,” said Dombrowski.
While it is up in the air whether or not Juneteenth will be celebrated as a community in Long Beach, some believe that we still will have some sort of celebration involving the city of Long Beach.
David McMarcus, a Long Beach resident and owner/curator of the Forgotten Images art exhibition thinks differently.
“The city, like many other cities, is facing budget cuts, it might not be held where it was previously, but the mayor Rex Richardson or the city I’m sure will be doing something for us,” said McMarcus.
Kemp’s involvement with Long Beach’s Juneteenth future celebrations are crystal clear he will “not be returning”.
“I’m all for Black love and the love of Long Beach, I believe in a standard level of excellence, this has been a chance of a lifetime to do something for our city and our people, but that level of excellence does not count as a victory for the city of Long Beach,” said Kemp.
City officials were contacted and have yet to respond to the Viking News for comments on any updates.
