Juneteenth has become a national holiday Juneteenth became an official national holiday., Cincinnati will celebrate the 1865 abolition of slavery with its 37th annual Juneteenth Festival in Eden Park.
The official holiday is on June 19, and the annual Juneteenth Festival will be on the weekend of June 15-16.
Saturday June 15 Noon to Nine
The family-friendly free event in Eden Park features festivities for all ages. The Juneteenth Festival kicks off at 11:30 on Saturday with a parade of flags representing the African diaspora—the origins and forced destinations of Africans during a slave trade that lasted for more than 400 years.
The festival continues through Saturday afternoon and evening with lots of organized activities for kids, with crafts, books, games, and horseback rides. Over 25 performances on two stages reflecting the shared heritage within the African diaspora– blues, jazz, R&B, Latin jazz, Reggae, African dancing, Brazilian dancing, and the Voices of Freedom poetry slam.
Performing artists include
Jazz Renaissance
Elevation Band,
Last Boppers
Cincy Brazil Samba
Nigerian Ijo-Ugo Dance & Drum
Cheryl Renee’ & Shorty Starr
Ms. Jaz
The Tailor Made Band
Positive Vibe Band
Johnny Payne and the True Believers
The 8:00 pm finale will feature Lakeside In Seasongood Pavilion.
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Raising the Juneteenth Flag
Flag ceremonies at The Cincinnati Art Museum : June 15
Cinicinnati City Hall :June 14 Noon
Hamilton County Courthouse :June 18 10:00 am)
A Father’s Day Concert Eden Park 2-6:00 pm
In 2005 Juneteenth Cincinnati revived June Fest, a concert series that served the African American community, from the late 1920s through the early 1950’s, when African American performers and audiences were not welcome in Music Hall and other venues. The Juneteenth weekend ends on Sunday afternoon with the June Fest Father’s Day Concert, featuring a variety of inspirational spiritual music and praise dancing in Seasongood Pavilion.