Amtrak rides to Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park will be half off for those wanting to attend the annual Juneteenth celebration.
The Juneteenth event will take place Saturday, June 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the state park located in the Central Valley 30 miles north from Bakersfield.
Colonel Allen Allensworth established the town of Allensworth in 1908 and it was home at one point to more than 300 families. The town was the first in California to be founded, financed and govered by African Americans. The park became a historic landmark in 1974.
The Juneteenth Festival commemorates the June 19, 1865, arrival of Union troops in Galveston, Texas, to bring news that slavery had been outlawed.
“We encourage any individual that is interested in immersing themselves in the rich, ethnically diverse history of our state to consider taking advantage of the affordable, convenient, and fun transportation option provided by Amtrak San Joaquins and join us on June 10th to celebrate this important holiday,” said Sasha Biscoe, president of the Friends of Allentown, which hosts the festival.
Event activities will include square dancing, self-guided tours of historic buildings, historic games with prizes, storytelling, and arts and crafts. Food and refreshment vendors will also be present and travelers can also bring their bikes and chairs aboard Amtrak trains and Thruway buses, according to Amtrak.
To reach the festival, take southbound trains including 702, 710, 712, 714. Northbound trains include trains 713, 715, 717 and 719. A 50 percent discount will automatically be applied during the ticket purchase. Additional discount programs regularly available to riders includes free rides for infants under 2, half-price every day for children 2-12, 15 percent off for seniors, veterans, active military members and disabled riders.
“Visitors attending the Juneteenth Festival will be able to take Amtrak San Joaquins trains to the Allensworth station,” according to Amtrak. “From there, riders will be met by a free shuttle for the short ride to the main property.”
Train tickets to Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park can be booked online at amtraksanjoaquins.com. For more information on how to book a group trip to Allensworth, contact Carmen Setness, community outreach coordinator for San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC), at [email protected].
