Juneteenth events in Cincinnati: Details for the block party, festival, parade and more
You'll find a wealth of stimulating, enriching and educational family-friendly events taking place around Greater Cincinnati this month in celebration of Juneteenth, the national holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
Here's a look at the Juneteenth events and festivals around the city.
Don't see your event listed? Email details to [email protected] to get it added to the list.
Tuesday, June 18
Juneteenth Eve "Ile Omi" Closing Reception, 6:30-10:30 p.m., Studeo Par, 1646 Hoffner St., Northside. Enjoy conversation with the Mz.Icar Art Collective, outdoor projection art, a cookout, DJs and more, powered by BLINK. Open Source Cinema will screen William Greaves' 1968 experimental documentary "Symbiopsychotaxiplasm" in the Quad community room at 7 p.m. Free. eventbrite.com.
Wednesday, June 19
Juneteenth Cincinnati Shorts, 5:49 and 7:50 a.m., Morning Edition, and 4:50 p.m., All Things Considered, WVXU 91.3 FM. Urban Roots third season highlights African American histories around the country, and the first two episodes explore the history of the Ohio River and its surrounding communities as a route to freedom. For Juneteenth, they're debuting 90-second tributes to regional Black history, which will air weekly on Wednesdays. Urban Roots is produced by Cincinnati-based historic preservationist Deqah Hussein-Wetzel and New York-based journalist Vanessa Quirk. It is an offshoot of Urbanist Media, a not-for-profit anti-racist preservation collaborative.
Juneteenth Jubilee, 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m., National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 50 E. Freedom Way, Downtown. Daylong festival features free museum admission all day, live music, programming, community vendors market with 15 minority- and women-owned businesses, and food trucks Sweets & Meats BBQ, Texas Joe Tex Mex, Beverly Ann's Cookies and Indigenous Chef. Bengals offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. delivers a motivational speech and hosts an autograph session. Inside the museum, you'll find drop-in family activities and 15-minute histories of Juneteenth. The event ends with a walk to the banks of the Ohio River, the symbolic River Jordan over which thousands of enslaved people crossed into freedom on the Underground Railroad. Free. freedomcenter.org.
Urban League Juneteenth Celebration, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Urban League Headquarters, 3458 Reading Road, Avondale. Block party celebration featuring food, community, culture, kids' activities and giveaways. Free.
Juneteenth Freedom Day, noon-5:30 p.m., Florence Nature Park Event Center & Gathering House, 7200 Nature Park Drive, Florence. This year's theme is "Black Resilience: Reclaiming Our Village Cohesion." Enjoy an enriching experience that includes music, entertainment, cultural exhibitions, educational presentations and more. Free. forfamilybyfamily.com.
Springboro Juneteenth Jubilee Community Blood Drive Kickoff, 2:30-6:30 p.m., Southwest Church, 150 Remick Blvd., Springboro. Hosted by Community Blood Center. springborojuneteenth.com.
Juneteenth Celebration, 3-7 p.m., Lincoln Grant Scholar House, 824 Greenup St., Covington. Enjoy food, a talent show, DJ, non-profit groups and community-based organizations. Free.
HBCU Juneteenth: a New Tradition to Celebrate Black Excellence, 4-7:30 p.m., Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Celebrate historically Black college and universities with alumni chapters, family-friendly fun, food, music, scholarship awards and more. Free. eventbrite.com.
Proximity and the Power of Shared Stories, 4-6:30 p.m., Southwest Church, 150 Remick Blvd., Springboro. Michael Carter, chief diversity officer at Sinclair Community College, leads discussion as part of Springboro's Juneteenth Jubilee. Free. eventbrite.com.
Juneteenth Night at FC Cincinnati vs. Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m., TQL Stadium, 1501 Central Parkway, West End. Fccincinnati.com.
Saturday, June 22
Juneteenth Panel Discussion, 10-11:30 a.m., Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine. Hear from four Black community leaders on their personal experience with Juneteenth and what it means to them. Free; reserve tickets at Findlaymarket.org.
Juneteenth Jam, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Chase Bank, 1535 W. Galbraith Road, North College Hill. Learn about the history of Juneteenth, play giant games, create a "make-and-take" craft, enjoy food vendors and more. There will be a parade from North College Hill Athletic Stadium down Trojan Way to Parrish Ave., then Goodman Ave., ending at the Juneteenth Jam. northcollegehill.org.
Springboro Juneteenth Jubilee, noon-9 p.m., North Park Amphitheater, 195 Tamarack Trail, Springboro. Entertainment, vendors and fun. Springboro Area Historical Society hosts self-guided Underground Railroad tours. The Springboro Area Museum will be open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday to pick up tour maps. Free. springborojuneteenth.com.
Springboro 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Coffman Family YMCA, 88 Remick Blvd., Springboro. Over 200 games possible and up to 14 divisions. $75-$100. eventbrite.com.
Sunday, June 23
Juneteenth Tasting Event, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine. Celebrate the cuisine of the market’s Black-owned businesses. $40 for 18 samples, $20 for 8 samples. Findlaymarket.org.
Sunday, June 30
Fifth Third Community Day, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 50 E. Freedom Way, Downtown. Enjoy free admission. freedomcenter.org.
– Find more events at events.cincinnati.com –
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Juneteenth block party, festival, parade, other events in Cincinnati