Color, Culture, and Community Converged at Juneteenth x KidFest

What do you get when you mix giant coloring book murals, a kid-sized play village, a blue bus train ride, and healing workshops under the interstate? You get Juneteenth x KidFest: Little Scotlandville—a vibrant, family-centered celebration that took place Saturday, June 21, under I-110 at BREC’s Scotlandville Parkway at Badley Road in Baton Rouge, LA.

The day kicked off with a high-energy 2K Run/1K Walk at 10 AM, setting the tone for a festival full of movement, play, and meaningful connection. Hosted by CADAV and the Scotlandville CDC, the annual event has grown into a beloved tradition on the second Saturday of June, bringing together children, caregivers, and creatives through educational and culturally rich experiences.

This year, The Walls Project led three dynamic art activations in collaboration with Operation Imagination and Knock Knock Children’s Museum. These installations offered hands-on, intergenerational engagement while honoring the deep-rooted legacy of Scotlandville. The celebration also marked the third ReActivate community event by The Walls Project in 2025, building on the momentum of MLK Day and Earth Day, with another activation planned for the fall at the Baton Roots farm.

By the Numbers

• 16 gallons of paint given away

• Over 150 lbs of produce distributed

• Over 400 attendees

Featured Activations Included:

Color the Columns:

Festivalgoers helped transform the interstate columns into vibrant public art. Wrapped in zippered canvas sleeves with original artwork, the columns became interactive coloring stations. Led by The Walls Project Artist Guild, community members painted throughout the day using eco-friendly paints provided by Sherwin-Williams and Green Sheen. What was once an overlooked stretch of infrastructure became a canvas for collective pride.

Little Scotlandville Playscape:

Children explored a miniature village inspired by historic Black-owned businesses in the Scotlandville community. From a pint-sized ice house and mechanic shop to a tiny theater, the re-themed play structures sparked imagination and local pride. Operation Imagination created the soft-play environments, and Knock Knock Children’s Museum staffed the area with trained facilitators to guide safe, creative play. A looping “blue bus” train ride added nonstop excitement for kids of all ages.

Clay & Connection Workshops:

In a quieter wellness zone, families joined clay workshops designed to support healing for Black caregivers. Led by a teaching artist with support from Dr. Harrison, a local mental health expert, these sessions encouraged storytelling, reflection, and intergenerational connection through hands-on creativity.

Baton Roots Wellness Table:

Baton Roots rounded out the experience with a wellness table offering free produce, gardening resources, and vegetable stamp art activities, encouraging families to explore creative paths to healthy living at home.

This year’s Juneteenth x KidFest showcased how overlooked spaces can be reimagined as powerful places for culture, connection, and joy. Through bold public art, interactive play, and spaces for healing, the event uplifted the past, present, and future of Scotlandville. For The Walls Project and its partners, it was another milestone in a year of impactful community engagement, proving once again that when you bring art to the heart of the neighborhood, you create more than a moment. You build a movement.