Yesterday was the Summer Solstice, and on my Sunday bike ride, I resolved to check out all the Druid ceremonies taking place in Denver, and also attend the Juneteenth Festival on Welton Street in the Five Points neighborhood. As in previous years, I found absolutely no Druid ceremonies anywhere. Since the solstice officially took place at 9:32 P.M. here in Denver, I can only assume the Druid population waited until then to start their human sacrifices and God knows what else they do during those ceremonies. Happily, the Juneteenth Festival was going strong when I got to Welton Street, as seen in the photograph on the left.
Juneteenth, of course, celebrates the day that Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas and brought the news to the 250,000 enslaved people in Texas that they were now free, a full two months after the Civil War ended. Juneteenth has been a major holiday here in Denver for many years, and celebrated in the Five Points neighborhood, which has a long history as the center of Black culture in the city. It was famous for it's jazz clubs, and was known as the "Harlem of the West," a frequent stop for famous jazz musicians, including Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, and Miles Davis. These days, the area is undergoing major gentrification, and struggling to maintain it's historic identity. However, yesterday, everyone seemed to be having a great time, and just enjoying the festival and a very pleasant, sunny afternoon. And as for the Druids, perhaps they will be more active during the Winter Solstice. One can always hope.
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