Sunday, June 14, 2026

A Juneteenth Hike and Luncheon Carry Altadena’s Black History Forward

[photo credit: Altadena Historical Society]

The Altadena Historical Society marks the holiday with a trail dedication, a scholarship luncheon and the voices of Eaton Fire survivors.

The Altadena Historical Society marks Juneteenth this year by walking the community’s history into the foothills. On Friday, June 19, its annual Juneteenth Celebration and Scholarship Awards begins at 8:30 a.m. at the JPL East Parking Lot, where participants gather before setting out on a 3.2-mile round-trip community hike along the El Prieto Trail. The destination is a newly installed handcrafted bench at the El Prieto Canyon trailhead, built by Eagle Scout candidate Elias Silva of Troop 333 as a permanent place to pause and reflect on the area’s layered Black and Indigenous history.

At noon, the celebration moves to Loma Alta Park for a community luncheon and program. The afternoon features a photo exhibit by award-winning local photographer Alfred Haymond, quilt displays by master quilters, and a program exploring the significance of Juneteenth while honoring the legacy of Ellen Garrison Clark, the 19th-century educator and civil rights activist who spent her final years in the Pasadena area and is buried in Altadena. Attendees will also get a preview of oral history recordings gathered from residents affected by the Eaton Fire — testimony the society is archiving to preserve the voices of Altadena’s African American community for future generations.

In tribute to Clark, the society will present scholarships to graduating seniors, continuing a tradition it launched in 2021 with support from local businesses and members. The Altadena Historical Society is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and sharing the community’s history.

The Juneteenth Celebration and Scholarship Awards will run on Friday, June 19, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the JPL East Parking Lot for the community hike and continuing at noon at Loma Alta Park, 3330 N. Lincoln Ave., Altadena. For more information and tickets, email altadenahistorical.society@yahoo.com or visit altadenahistoricalsociety.org.