Bastrop Juneteenth Celebration

06/15/2026

𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲: 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁.

What an incredible evening at this year's ManTalk, presented as part of the 40th Anniversary Bastrop Juneteenth Celebration in partnership with the HEAL Alliance.

The room was filled with wisdom, honesty, vulnerability, and strength as men from across generations came together for meaningful conversations about life, leadership, family, mental health, personal growth, and the unique experiences of not just being Black man, but being a MAN in today's world. Through powerful stories and authentic dialogue, participants created a space where healing, accountability, mentorship, and brotherhood took center stage.

One of the greatest takeaways from the evening was the reminder that none of us are meant to walk alone. When men come together to support, encourage, and challenge one another, entire families and communities benefit. The conversations shared during ManTalk will continue long after the event ended, helping to strengthen the bonds that make our community stronger.

A very special thank you to the HEAL Alliance for taking the lead in planning and organizing this impactful event. Your vision, dedication, and commitment to creating spaces for meaningful dialogue made the evening a tremendous success.

We would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to Bubby's BBQ for providing the delicious barbecue that everyone enjoyed. And a heartfelt thank you to Hannibal and Sumai Lokumbe for stepping in where needed and demonstrating what a true village, and a true tribe looks like. Your willingness to serve and support exemplifies the spirit of community that Juneteenth represents.

Thank you to every man and young man who attended, shared, listened, and contributed to the conversation. Together, we continue to build a legacy of healing, unity, and empowerment.

📸 Check out the photo album from the evening thanks to Robert Washington:
[https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fF-t7_wNZkEamBuJNfm2py_9YkpkWZ1N?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fF-t7_wNZkEamBuJNfm2py_9YkpkWZ1N?usp=sharing)

06/15/2026

✨ 𝐄𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 ✨

What an incredible afternoon celebrating the beauty, confidence, grace, and talent of our young ladies at the Bastrop Juneteenth Celebration's Essence of Beauty Pageant!

Every contestant walked across that stage with poise and courage, and we could not be more proud of each and every one of them. From their beautiful smiles to their shining personalities, these young ladies reminded us that true beauty comes from confidence, character, and embracing who you are.

While crowns and titles are exciting, our greatest hope is that every participant leaves this experience with increased self-confidence, lifelong friendships, cherished memories, and the understanding that they are capable of accomplishing anything they set their minds to achieve.

A heartfelt thank you goes to our sponsors whose generosity helped make this event possible. We are especially grateful to the Bastrop Opera House for providing such a wonderful venue and to G and C Printing for their quality work.

Special thanks to H-E-B for showing up in full force! Your team’s presence, encouragement, and support meant so much to our contestants and their families.

To the parents, grandparents, family members, and supporters who packed the house and made this a standing-room-only event thank you! Your cheers, encouragement, and love created an atmosphere that our contestants will never forget.

Finally, we extend our deepest appreciation to our Pageant Subcommittee and all of the helping hands who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Your dedication, countless hours of planning, and commitment to excellence made this event one of the highlights of our 40th Anniversary Celebration.

This event is a perfect example that there is no "I" in team. Every contribution mattered, every helping hand made a difference, and all of you should be incredibly proud of what we accomplished together.

Thank you for helping us celebrate 40 years of legacy, culture, and community. 💜👑

📸 View the pageant photo album thanks to Robert Washington:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fZTiCXJvjuEprD4UCthytA7bSBHf0Yrp

06/15/2026

✨𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆: 𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀✨

What happens when seven Black women representing three generations come together around one table?
Stories are shared. Wisdom is passed down. Healing begins.

On June 6th, we gathered for our first Juneteenth sponsored event of the month: 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆, an intimate conversation centered on 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵, 𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀.

From memories of childhood and lessons learned from mothers and grandmothers, to discussions about self-care, resilience, and breaking generational cycles, every voice at the table mattered.

Together, we reflected on the women who shaped us, honored the sacrifices of those who came before us, and explored how we can create healthier paths for the generations that follow. The conversation reminded us that while our experiences may differ by age, our stories are deeply connected through strength, love, perseverance, and community.

There was laughter. There were times of reflection. There was understanding.

Most importantly, there was a reminder that Black women deserve spaces where they can be seen, heard, supported, and celebrated.

Thank you to the incredible women who courageously shared their journeys and helped create a space of trust, vulnerability, and empowerment. Your stories are a part of a legacy that continues to inspire.

Thank you to our major Juneteenth Celebration sponsors and our location host City of Bastrop TX - City Government, First National Bank and Bastrop Christian Church . Without you we wouldn’t be able to offer these meaningful extra events
❤️🖤💚💛

𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨. 𝙎𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣. 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. 𝘾𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙇𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙘𝙮. 𝙍𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙙. 𝙂𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝘽𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚.

📸 View the pageant photo album thanks to Robert Washington:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/18bOtBflbG7u-7PMJ4BEaPcO-H4FNXTgF

06/14/2026

📸✨ Bastrop Juneteenth Pageant Photo Drop! ✨📸

Did you capture special moments from the Bastrop Juneteenth Pageant? We would love to see them!

Please upload your photos and videos to our shared folder so we can celebrate and preserve these wonderful memories with our community.

📂 Upload Here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10RyCE0P0PCIEhURbFFd7AnaF02h-ZG-A

Thank you to all of our contestants, families, supporters, and volunteers who helped make this year’s pageant a success! We can’t wait to see your favorite moments.

❤️💚🖤

Access Google Drive with a Google account (for personal use) or Google Workspace account (for business use).

06/11/2026

Will you be there? This is one of the most important partnerships our committee has been a part of. Every year the men and young men walk away with a feeling of being heard and seen in ways that is not openly accepted in their everyday lives. Plan to come out and bring a guy with you!

June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month.

Men deserve spaces where they can show up fully not just as providers, leaders, or protectors, but as human beings.

That’s why MANTALK exists.

A space for real conversation, connection, good food, and community. Because healing happens when we stop carrying everything alone.

Tag a man in your life who deserves to be in the room.

06/11/2026

🎉 **𝟰𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲** 🎉

The countdown is on! Join us Saturday, June 20, 2026, as we celebrate 40 years of honoring freedom, heritage, family, and community at the Bastrop Juneteenth Parade!

📍 **𝐏a𝐫a𝐝e B𝐞g𝐢n𝐬:** 1𝟎:𝟎0 a.m.

👀 **B𝐞s𝐭 𝐕i𝐞w𝐢n𝐠 𝐀r𝐞a𝐬**
We encourage spectators to line up along **Main Street between Spring Street and Pine Street** for some of the best parade viewing opportunities.

🎤 **𝐏a𝐫a𝐝e A𝐧n𝐨u𝐧c𝐢n𝐠 𝐋o𝐜a𝐭i𝐨n𝐬**
Be sure to listen for parade commentary and participant introductions at:
• The corner of **Spring Street & Main Street**
• The **Frontier Bank balcony** between **Chestnut Street and Pine Street**

🔎 Look for the **"Parade Watching"** signs to help you find designated viewing areas.

🪑 **B𝐫i𝐧g Y𝐨u𝐫 𝐂h𝐚i𝐫s E𝐚r𝐥y!**
Streets affected by the parade route will begin closing at **8:00 a.m.**, so arrive early, claim your spot, and get settled before the festivities begin.

⚠️ **𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿**
Parade participants may toss candy, beads, and other items along the route. We ask all parents and guardians to please keep a close watch on your little ones as they move toward the street to collect items from the floats. Safety is our top priority, and we want everyone to have a fun and memorable experience.

🎺 Gather your family, wear your Juneteenth colors, and help us celebrate four decades of tradition, pride, and community spirit in Bastrop!

If you haven't yet, please pre-register: https://forms.gle/nX44GV4rsYv9FxQa6

06/10/2026

We know one of the Juneteenth traditions is customizing those shirts with cuts, slashes, and creative designs! Why wait until the last minute?

Order your official Bastrop Juneteenth shirt today and have it in hand before the celebration begins, so you'll be ready to make it your own and show up in style.

Get your shirt here and be celebration-ready!
https://bastropjuneteenth.com/2026-t-shirts

06/09/2026

We are so excited, register today!

06/06/2026

🎶 The soundtrack to 40 years of celebration starts here! 🎶

We've created the official Bastrop Juneteenth Celebration Spotify Playlist featuring gospel, soul, blues, jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and songs that celebrate freedom, perseverance, joy, and unity.

As we prepare for our 40th Anniversary Celebration, let these songs remind us where we've been, what we've overcome, and the future we're building together.

🎧 Listen, Follow & Share: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0re5CEl8oJ1uHpeMzUEyDr

❤️💛💚🖤

06/04/2026

Local opportunities for employment from one of our sponsors!

WE'RE HIRING 🔧 The City of Bastrop's Fleet and Facilities Department is seeking qualified candidates for two open positions:

To Apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/bastrop?

Fleet Mechanic 🛻 The Fleet Mechanic performs skilled mechanical repairs and maintenance on the City’s diverse fleet of approximately 200 units—including passenger vehicles, heavy equipment, light-duty trucks, and light equipment/small engine repair. This position plays a key role in ensuring the reliability, safety, and efficiency of all City vehicles and equipment. In addition to strong mechanical ability, the position requires proficiency in using diagnostic tools and fleet asset management software to scan codes, document work, and complete work orders electronically.

Building Maintenance Worker 🏫 The Building Maintenance Worker plays a vital role in maintaining the safety, cleanliness, and functionality of City-owned buildings. Under the direct supervision of the Fleet & Facilities Director, this position performs routine and skilled maintenance tasks across various City facilities. Responsibilities include repairs, preventive upkeep, custodial duties, and responding to service requests in a timely and professional manner. The role requires attention to safety procedures, strong communication skills, and the ability to work independently or as part of a team to ensure public facilities are operational, clean, and welcoming for staff and visitors. This position is essential in supporting the day-to-day operations of the City's infrastructure. Performs related work as assigned.