R.O.C. The Block is celebrating its 5th annual Juneteenth event with food, music, and lots of fun.
If you drove past Tampa Bay Blvd near the Raymond James Stadium on Saturday, you may have heard reggae music, hip hop, or even dancehall.
WATCH: Tampa Bay celebrates 5th annual Juneteenth R.O.C. The Block
Thousands of people were out there enjoying the holiday.
"That's what it's about, everybody being as one, one family," said Tanika Wilson, an attendee.
Wilson has gone to every R.O.C. The Block festival since it's inception back in 2021.
It all began when the founder, Bolaji Ajike, said she realized the Super Bowl in Tampa didn't have enough representation from local small businesses.
"So, we hosted a pop up in downtown at one of the only black owned businesses in that area, and it was so incredible," said Ajike. "And after they won the Super Bowl I was like, 'hey, we're gonna do Juneteenth at the stadium, and here we are 5 years later. We've been doing it since then."
Juneteenths is about celebrating the commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States.
While the Emancipation Proclamation declared freedom of slavery in 1863, it wasn't until June 1865, that the slaves truly became free in Texas.
"This history is not just African-American history, this is American history, so that means it really impacts us all," said LaShanda Jackson, community organizer of R.O.C. the Block.
Jackson said despite the dark history this holiday originated from, they want everyone to come out and enjoy themselves, celebrating freedom.
“Even what may feel like a very tumultuous time, and even though we are celebrating something that is it tumultuous history it's very very dark history quite frankly, they still can be a place of joy when we come together,” said Jackson.
On Saturday, the community celebrated the holiday by bringing the African American culture to light, from the clothes and jewelry to the music and food.
"This is a big family reunion," said Ajike.
First timers, Donald and Valerie Ware, brought their grandchildren to teach them about their past.
"It's very important, it's our heritage," said Valerie. "It's just something that the children need to learn and think about. They didn't know until today that we originated from Africa."
A thunderstorm put a slight pause on the event for about an hour, but the festivities continued afterwards.
The event wrapped up the week-long festival by beating it's record from last year of 13,000 people.
“I didn't see anything"
Nine-year-old Leah Lendel and her family were enjoying a day at the beach in Boca Grande when a shark bit her hand. Over a week later, she appeared at a press conference with her family at Tampa General Hospital to give an update on her recovery.
