Despite some on-again, off-again thunderstorms, the third annual Juneteenth Celebration went on as scheduled Thursday evening at Dodge Park in Sterling Heights.

A smaller-than-usual crowd turned for the Dodge Park Thursday’s event, likely due to leftover moist ground conditions from the day before or the still-present threat of rain.

Still, those who attended either the Farmers Market, vendors and food truck gathering, Patio n’ Pints, or Music in the Park main eventers the Prolifics recreating Motown’s beloved tunes, seemed to enjoy themselves.

But the theme of the night was the Juneteenth, held across the country to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. For third year in a row, the Sterling Heights African American Coalition hosted the festivities in partnership with city officials.

In a prepared statement, Sterling Heights resident and coalition chair Diane Bledsoe said the collaboration “opened the Juneteenth event to an even larger audience.”

The event included several Black-owned vendors and food trucks, along with more than 20 additional vendors and community-based organizations.

In addition to the Prolifics’ set, live music was scheduled to be provided by Daryl Beebe and The Kamp, Larry Lee and Back in the Day, DJ K, and Chozn.