URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Juneteenth is this Thursday, but on Tuesday some people in Urbana started celebrating early.

Numerous individuals gathered to enjoy a variety of dishes offered by black-owned food establishments in the region. According to officials, this was the inaugural occasion for such an event, and given the overwhelming response, it is unlikely to be the last.

Tuesday provided a perfect summer day in Urbana, inviting the community outdoors. The day began with Soulful Streets: a Juneteenth food truck festival, attracting a considerable audience.

“A Juneteenth celebration, we wanted to support the black owned businesses,” said Des Banks.

Banks, her family and dozens of others were all in line supporting each food truck and conversing with one another.

“Our communities often lack the support they deserve on a global level,” Banks remarked. “It’s crucial that we back each other since we frequently spend our earnings at other businesses without supporting one another, which is why I’m participating today.”

Juneteenth National Independence Day is still a fairly new holiday. In June 2021, it became nationally recognized. The National Park Service said it celebrates the date of when enslaved people of African descent in Galveston, Texas learned about their freedom.

“The country was built off of slavery, right?” said Urbana Deputy Chief Clerk, Seok Hyun Cho. “And so, we are here in the present. We have to recognize that, and we have to honor the history of black people in America.”

Cho, one of the head organizers, said this was their first time putting on an event like this. It was created to highlight the food trucks and hopefully grow their audiences.

“We didn’t want to let anyone down,” Cho said. “You know, food trucks, it can be tough. Being a mobile restaurant, it’s not an easy business.

He said the turnout was amazing and he was very impressed. Juneteenth is still getting its recognition across the country however, with many people still learning about the national holiday.

“July 4th has been the celebration for years,” Banks said. “We’re black. Like there is so much things that are stopping us from doing more, and we know what’s stopping us from doing more.”

On Thursday, there will be a parade to celebrate Juneteenth, and it starts in Urbana at 1 p.m. It will begin at the intersection of Philo Road and Colorado Avenue and ends at the Salt and Light Ministries parking lot.