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Lewes celebrates Juneteenth with culture, fun

Big turnout for annual festival in George H.P. Smith Park
Pastor Kurtis Cherry, left, and the Frankford Church of Christ choir help kick off the fourth annual Lewes Juneteenth celebration in George H.P. Smith Park June 28. The event was filled with song, food and history. BILL SHULL PHOTOS
Bill Shull
July 3, 2025

Tianna and Angela Johnson of Dover searched for bargains and fashion at the fourth annual Lewes Juneteenth celebration June 28.

“I love it. it’s fun every year,” Tianna said.

Shopping was only one part of the festival. The sound of music, the smell of good food and the sight of African American history filled George H.P. Smith Park.

The event commemorates June 19, 1865, the day slaves in Texas learned that they were free, marking the end of slavery in the United States.

Trina Brown-Hicks, Lewes’ newest councilwoman, has been organizing the celebration for the past four years.

“This is important because we want to always remember that we were slaves, African Americans and others who were indentured servants, share past experiences, learn the history and educate for the future,” she said.

Mayor Amy Marasco commended the city’s African American heritage commission for the work it has done to rename Fourth Street in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and name Johnnie Walker Beach, among other projects.

She said the city is committed to the spirit of the Juneteenth holiday.

“Today is a celebration of hard-fought freedom, and that freedom is not yet accomplished. We have to commit ourselves to everywhere we see racism, where we see injustice, [and] when we see people’s voices are muted, we have to give them a voice,” Marasco said.

About 75 vendors and community service organizations were expected at the festival, including several there for the first time.

Lewes celebrated June 28 so as to not conflict with Georgetown’s event, which was held June 21.

 

Darryl Daisey, chair of the Lewes African American Heritage Commission, stands in front of the Lewes Black history timeline he helped create.
Lewes Councilwoman Trina Brown-Hicks, left, and Mayor Amy Marasco welcome people to the fourth annual Juneteenth celebration in George H.P. Smith Park. Brown-Hicks is one of the organizers behind the annual festival.
The Harris family of Bridgeville enjoy the day at the Juneteenth celebration. Shown are (l-r) parents LaToya Harris and Darren Harris and daughters Kylar, Brianna and Makyla.
The Lewes African American Heritage Commission is instrumental in organizing the city’s Juneteenth celebration. Shown are (l-r) Giulia Kirsch, ex officio; Mickeya Brown-Linzie, vice chair; the Rev. Dr. Deborah McCaffity, commissioner; Bill Collick, commissioner; Delema Lott, commissioner; and Darryl Daisey, chair. Not shown are Falan Hylton, secretary, and Jose Marcos Salaverria, Historic Lewes, ex officio.
Tierra Williams is the emcee for the Juneteenth celebration.
Tianna Johnson and Angela Johnson of Dover look at T-shirts for sale at Studio B Designs.
A visitor looks at the story walk along one of the paths in the park. The panels told various chapters of African American history. They were made possible by the Albarran family.
The Rev. Dr. Deborah McCaffity of the St. George AME Church speaks at the Juneteenth celebration.
The Delta Tau Sigma Alumnae Chapter is well represented by Mary Batten, Rochelle Knapp, Shervaun Hinton and Tiffany Jordan.
Darrell Hardwick from Little Pee Wee’s Water Ice scoops out a cold one.
Rob West delivers a spoken word presentation.
Edith Romero, left, and Pam White man the mobile unit from La Red Health.
Miranda Mathias, left, and Audrey Mathias are in charge of the prize wheel. Visitors could spin to win their choice of an item on the table.
Desiree Hazzard, Miss Milford 2025, makes the rounds at the festival, spreading the word that young women can be successful in the pageant.
Cheryl Wright, left, gets an ice cold lemonade from Taylor Green at the Tay’s Lemonade stand.
Richard and Janie Miller represent William C. Jason Comprehensive High School alumni, the first African American secondary school in Delaware. They said they are getting ready for the 75th anniversary celebration in October.
Tracy Hall, left, and Sonya Sturgis are among the first-time vendors at the Lewes Juneteenth celebration. They sell jewelry and clothing.
Christy Taylor and her band provide some of the sounds at the festival.
Member of the Daughters of the American Revolution Col. David Hall Chapter stand in front of a banner with the names of four African Americans from Sussex County who fought in the American Revolution. The DAR group is working to identify more African Americans and Native Americans who served in the war. Shown are (l-r) Hilda Adams, Patti Garrison and Amy Kalkbrenner.
Visitors look at history of Black families in Lewes.
Vendors sell a wide variety of goods, including the artwork at Jazzee Decor tent.
Sen. Russ Huxtable, D-Lewes, left, talks with Emerson Sheldon and Max Goetler at the Speak Out Against Hate table.
Tonika Ward, left, and Jesse McCall attend their first Lewes Juneteenth event. They represent their company, T. Ward Consulting.

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Bill Shull has been covering Lewes for the Cape Gazette since 2023. He comes to the world of print journalism after 40 years in TV news. Bill has worked in his hometown of Philadelphia, as well as Atlanta and Washington, D.C. He came to Lewes in 2014 to help launch WRDE-TV. Bill served as WRDE’s news director for more than eight years, working in Lewes and Milton. He is a 1986 graduate of Penn State University. Bill is an avid aviation and wildlife photographer, and a big Penn State football, Eagles, Phillies and PGA Tour golf fan. Bill, his wife Jill and their rescue cat, Lucky, live in Rehoboth Beach.

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