That tiny notation at the bottom of your calendar tells you today is indeed Flag Day. And while many Angelenos are inadvertently and loosely interpreting that to mean "stick a Lakers flag on your car" it is actually (and obviously) a bigger deal on a national level. Besides waving your own Stars and Stripes or taking part in a parade, it's tough to commemorate the adoption of the flag.
To the north of us, at the state capitol building in Sacramento, the California Arts Council along with the "U.S. Postal Service and dozens of other organizations" will be unveiling "the California Imagination banner, a rendition of the state Bear Flag representing the arts of California," according to StreetInsider.com . The banner reflects a melding of hundreds of images from the arts gathered all over California, and today is the first time artist Jillian Kogan will share the final piece and stories behind its making in public.
Another event being celebrated today is Juneteenth, which is technically June 19th, but is being observed in part this afternoon in Long Beach with the 12th Annual Juneteenth Celebration being held at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. Juneteenth celebrates the freeing of slaves in Texas (where the day is a state holiday) and is recognized elsewhere, including California. Celebrations of the day go back to 1865; this year if you can get down to Long Beach between Noon and 5 p.m. you can take part in the free open-air festival that will include "live musical performances, food vendors, crafts and a Safety & Health Fair with stress reduction services, massages, and information on physical activity and various health screenings" along with stuff for kids and college students.
12th Annual Juneteenth Jubilee
Noon-5 p.m.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Park
1950 Lemon Avenue, Long Beach [map]
Photo by Zach Behrens/LAist
