MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Meridian Township held the community’s first Juneteenth Freedom Fest June 18 to June 22. Local businesses participated in the event, hiding gift cards around the community for residents to find.

Amber Clark, Neighborhoods and Economic Development Director for Meridian Township, organized the Freedom Fest and over 35 businesses participated to help make the event possible.

Local businesses donated gift cards with amounts of ten dollars or more to the Freedom Fest. These gift cards were swapped throughout businesses in the community and hidden. As residents shopped at their everyday stores, they came across gift cards to new businesses in the community.

“Juneteenth celebrates and honors the freedom of all people in our nation. The Emancipation Proclamation was signed January 1, 1863, and it was June 19, 1865 when all of the people heard about the Emancipation Proclamation,” Clark said.

For residents who did not find a gift card, extra gift baskets were donated by businesses involved. A raffle was done at the end of the event, and some winners went home with gift baskets worth over $100.

This is the first year Meridian Township put on The Freedom Fest and Clark hopes to see the event continue to grow in the future.