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49th Juneteenth Festival returns to Buffalo

Organizers expect more than 30,000 visitors to come out. The festival continues Sunday from noon until 7 p.m.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — It's back. The biggest Juneteenth Festival in the country is here, and it's returning for its 49th year. 

The national holiday recognized on June 19 celebrates the day enslaved people in America received freedom. Folks spent the day on Buffalo's East Side for the occasion. 

"I'm from Charlotte, North Carolina. I come home all the time to come to Juneteenth," says Demario Johnson. "It brings us together. It's just something that African American people can come together, have fun, love each other, talk, and have a good time."

RELATED: Governor Hochul, local officials march in Juneteenth Parade

The celebration started Saturday morning with a parade. It had more than 5,000 people marching down Genesee Street, and 2 On Your Side was also walking.

After the parade, thousands more walked over to Martin Luther King Park. There are 150 vendors for you to check out. 

We came across Layla Robinson selling her homemade hair care products. 

"What inspired me was wearing my natural hair, and I just want all Black men, women, and children to feel comfortable wearing their natural hair. We got to represent ourselves okay," Robinson said. "We all have so much potential and greatness in us. We need to express that and put that into our talents." 

Robinson started her business three years ago. She caters to natural curls specifically made for 3a-4c hair types. You can find her on Instagram @mytypehair.co. 

Dwayne Jones is also there with Jamaican eats. He has a restaurant called Chef Bigwayne Jamaican Cuisine. 

"Today I just got jerk chicken, curry chicken, oxtails, rice, rasta pasta, rice and peas. My restaurant is 1432 Niagara, inside the Westside Bazaar," Jones says. I did it last year, but I didn't have a restaurant so, maybe they passed here last year, and this year they like 'Yo! That's Big Wayne!' "

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