How the Bills are taking part in Buffalo's 50th anniversary Juneteenth Celebration

Jun 09, 2026 at 03:33 PM

There's a particular kind of energy at Shelter 5 in MLK Jr. Park during Buffalo's Juneteenth Celebration each year. Children crowd around tables brimmed with young plants. Presenters share knowledge about home remedies and food boxes. Urban farmers and researchers and food justice leaders stand side by side, talking about land and health and history. This is the Juneteenth Agricultural Pavilion.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Buffalo's Juneteenth Celebration, the third largest Juneteenth celebration in the world. The Juneteenth Agricultural Pavilion, now in its eighth year, uplifts the connection between Juneteenth and agriculture, and that connection goes deep. At this event each year, Black people and families come together around seeds, soil, and food justice, to honor that history of Juneteenth, and reclaim something that was stolen; their relationship with land, agriculture, and freedom.

"As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the festival, the pavilion serves as both a reflection and a reminder—honoring the resilience and contributions of those who came before us while inspiring future generations to see themselves as leaders, innovators, and changemakers. This milestone year is an opportunity to celebrate our history, strengthen community connections, and cultivate a vision for the next 50 years," said Jaime Swygert, founder and chair of the Juneteenth Agricultural Pavilion.

Buffalo Bills float at the Juneteenth Parade, June 14, 2025.

The Juneteenth Agricultural Pavilion is where that reclamation happens. Coordinated by Food for the Spirit, a majority Black-led collective building power for food justice in Buffalo and across New York State, the pavilion brings together more than 20 partner organizations and serves approximately 500 people each year through hands-on demonstrations, free plants and seeds, educational resources, and community connection. This year's Sowing Wisdom presentation series runs across both days of the festival, June 13 and 14, and features voices that span generations and disciplines.

The Buffalo Bills Foundation is the headline sponsor of the 2026 Juneteenth Agricultural Pavilion, providing funding to support Food for the Spirit in coordinating this work. The Bills Foundation's support reflects a values-aligned partnership that has deepened over time. The Bills Foundation has been explicit about its commitment to food access and justice on Buffalo's East Side, and its support of the pavilion is an expression of what that commitment looks like in practice.

"The Bills Foundation is proud to support the Juneteenth Agricultural Pavilion at Buffalo's Juneteenth Festival, celebrating community, culture, and access to healthy food across WNY. We're honored to stand alongside so many impactful organizations making a difference in our community," said Michelle Roberts, executive director of the Buffalo Bills Foundation.

Schedule and hours for the 2026 Juneteenth Parade, Festival, and Agricultural Pavilion:

Juneteenth Parade – June 13

Martin Luther King Jr. Park

Time: 10 a.m.

One of the largest in the nation—celebrating freedom, heritage, and pride with floats, marching bands, community groups, and thousands of attendees. Be sure to look out for the Buffalo Bills in the parade!

Juneteenth Festival – June 13 & June 14

Schedule: https://www.buffalojuneteenth.com/copy-of-schedule

Juneteenth Agricultural Pavilion

The Juneteenth Agricultural Pavilion is located in Shelter 5 at MLK Jr. Park, near North Parade and Fillmore Avenue. Attendance is free and open to all.

Saturday, June 13

Open from: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
1 p.m. presentation: Ms. Della Miller with Community First Commission: Food Demonstration Station: Fresh Is Best
2 p.m. presentation: Tony Hillery with Harlem Grown: Be The Change: Growing Through Failure

Sunday, June 14

Open from: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Noon presentation: Pamela James with LifeSource Systems: What Is A Food Prescription Box?
1 p.m. presentation: Nnenna Ferguson with Bru Apothecary: Building A Home "Farmacy"
2 p.m. presentation: Carlos Calderon Jr. with UB Food Lab: Structural Stigma, Food Apartheid, and Mental Health

Learn more about how the Buffalo Bills are celebrating Juneteenth

Food For The Spirit contributed to this article