Here are 18+ events and ways to celebrate Juneteenth in Louisville
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, and Emancipation Day, is a nationwide celebration to commemorate the emancipation from slavery.
Juneteenth, is a combination of "June" and "nineteenth," in honor of June 19, 1865, when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger came to Galveston, Texas, to inform a reluctant community that President Abraham Lincoln two years earlier had freed the slaves and to press locals to comply with his directive.
There is no one reason why there was a two-plus-year delay in letting Texas know about the abolition of slavery in the United States, according to Juneteenth.com. The historical site said some accounts place the delay on a messenger who was murdered on his way to Texas with the news, while others say the news was deliberately withheld.
Our Story, America's Glory: What to know about Louisville's 9-day Juneteenth celebration
Here is a list of events taking place around the Louisville area to celebrate Juneteenth:
Journeys to Freedom: {Un}Known Project River Cruise
WHAT: While floating along the Ohio River between Kentucky, a slave state, and Indiana, a free state, participants will hear the stories of two families seeking to escape enslavement by boat. Each guest will receive a color-coded passport and be assigned a persona for the event. The passport will give different passengers access to various spaces throughout the boat as the performance progresses.
WHERE: Belle of Louisville, Fourth and River Road
WHEN: June 9, 10, 22, 23, 7-9 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Poker and blackjack, vendors from MELANaire Marketplace, and food and beverages will be available for purchase. VIP tickets available. Tickets: $45, $150 for VIP. belleoflouisville.org.
First Tee Louisville's 22nd Annual George 'G.G.' Johnson Golf Scramble
WHAT: George Johnson was the first and only African-American head golf pro in Kentucky. The Louisville Urban League in partnership with First Tee Louisville and the PGA of America will host this scramble as a fundraiser for the Urban Youth Golf Program Scholarship Fund named in honor of George “G.G.” Johnson. The four-person scramble includes three adults and one first tee participant. Lunch provided.
WHERE: Shawnee Golf Course, 460 Northwestern Parkway
WHEN: June 11; lunch 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; shotgun start, 1 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Hole sponsor: $100; individual player, $134;silver sponsor, $400; gold sponsor, $800. Register at firstteelouisville.org/george-g-g-johnson-scholarship-scramble.
Juneteenth Art Camp
WHAT: Louisville Visual Art and Waterfront Park are hosting a day camp for youth ages 7-12. Campers will be introduced to the works and history of Ed Hamilton, Muhammad Ali, the Underground Railroad and more, then create their own artworks to express themselves and their newfound knowledge; in the afternoons, campers will explore Waterfront Park for fun camp activities. Limited to 10 students.
WHERE: Louisville Visual Art and Waterfront Park
WHEN: June 13-17, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
WAVE Country with Dawne Gee
WHAT: Dawne Gee, WAVE-TV anchor and reporter, will discuss Juneteenth highlights and moderate panel discussions.
WHERE: WAVE 3
WHEN: June 13 and 14, 2 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: louisvilleky.gov; wave3.com/community/wave-country.
Juneteenth Lecture: Free at Last?
WHAT: Dr. Mary Frances Berry, the first woman of any race to head a major research university as Chancellor of the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she is the Geraldine R. Segal Professor of American Social Thought and Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania, where she teaches the history of American law and the history of law and social policy, is keynote speaker. Host: University of Louisville Black Faculty & Staff Association. Sponsored by University of Louisville Office of the President. Part of the University of Louisville Juneteenth Collection.
WHERE: PNC Club Cardinal Stadium, 2550 South Floyd St. and on Microsoft teams
WHEN: June 13, noon to 1:30 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Free. Registration is required. Teams link will be emailed to those who register for online participation. Free. Registration: bit.ly/uofljuneteenth2022lecture.
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Lean Into Louisville, Redistricting Panel Discussion
WHAT: Mayor Greg Fischer will introduce a diverse panel that will address and examine why redistricting happens, who it helps, harms, and short-term/long-term implications.
WHERE: MetroTV and Lean Into Louisville will livestream the event on social media.
WHEN: June 14, 6:30 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: louisvilleky.gov; facebook.com/LeanIntoLouisville.
Juneteenth & Cash Bail: Fighting for Freedom
WHAT: Panel discussion focused on Juneteenth, cash bail, and racial justice work. Part of the Juneteenth Collection. Sponsored by University of Louisville Standing Up for Racial Justice.
WHERE: College of Education, Porter Building Room ED 239, 1905 South 1st Street and on Microsoft Teams (teams link: bit.ly/UofLCashBail)
WHEN: June 14, noon to 1 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Registration is required. bit.ly/uofljuneteenth2022cashbail
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Lean Into Louisville, Presentation: The Kentucky African American Civil War Soldiers Project
WHAT: The Kentucky African American Civil War Soldiers Project seeks to uncover archival documents about the lives of these soldiers and their family members, and use them as the basis for constructing family trees going as far backward and forward as possible. Dan Gediman and Denyce Peyton will share stories and photographs about selected soldiers from Louisville, as well as discuss their newly created searchable online database.
WHERE: First Gethsemane Baptist Church, 1159 Algonquin Parkway
WHEN: June 15, 12 p.m.
Louisville Juneteenth Festival
WHAT: Third annual Louisville Juneteenth Festival will take place at The Belvedere and surrounding venues and will feature more than 70 Black businesses, musical performances, panel discussions, networking events, food, and more.
WHERE: Various locations
WHEN: June 16-19
June 16: Workshop and social, The Presley Post, 734 W Main St. Suite 106, 5-9 p.m. Features keynote speakers, refreshments, vision boarding, networking, music, and more.
June 17: Lipstick Wars Poetry Slam. Paristown Hall, 724 Brent St., 7-10 p.m. Poets from all over the country will compete for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place cash prizes.
June 18: Louisville Juneteenth Fest Culture Business & Bourbon. Rabbit Hole Distillery, 711 E. Jefferson St., 4-7 p.m. An evening of discussions, panels, networking, refreshments, music and giveaways; HBCU Midnight Brunch, Roots 101 Museum, 124 N. 1st St., 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Features a gourmet brunch, DJ, access to the historic Roots 101 Museum exhibits, open bar, dancing, networking and more.
June 19: Louisville Juneteenth Festival, Belvedere, 141 N. Sixth St., 3-9 p.m.; Louisville Juneteenth Festival Afterparty, The Wiggle Room, 1066 Bardstown Road, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
MORE INFORMATION: eventbrite.com/o/black-complex-louisville-33632272381; louisvillejuneteenthfest.com
Louisville Metro Human Relations Commission Juneteenth Luncheon
WHAT: Guest speaker: Rev. Dr. Corrie Schull, Jefferson County Public School Board member, District 6 and senior pastor of Burnett Avenue Baptist Church.
WHERE: Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, 1701 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd.
WHEN: June 16, 11 a.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Tickets are $25. 502-574-3631 or hrc@louisvilleky.gov
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Miss Juneteenth Pageant
WHAT: The pageant will feature 30 contestants, live music and giveaways. Mayor Greg Fischer is expected to crown the winners.
WHERE: Fourth Street Live, 400 S. Fourth St.
WHEN: June 16, 1 to 5 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Free. louisvilleky.gov.
Juneteenth Sickle Cell Awareness Blood Drive
WHAT: The American Red Cross needs Black blood donors. Blood donors who are Black play a critical role in helping patients battling sickle cell disease receive the most compatible blood match.
WHERE: Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center, 3029 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd.
WHEN: June 17, 1-6 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Make an appoint today at RedCrossBlood.org and receive a free health screening prior to donating, use Sponsor Code: USBank. redcrossblood.org.
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Juneteenth Jubilee Celebration: Our Story, America's Glory Inaugural Gala
WHAT: Mayor Greg Fischer will speak at the red carpet gala that will feature dinner, spoken word by Hannah Drake and special performances by the Dr. Jerry Tolson Orchestra, Frankie Raymore and the Groovemasterz and Donna & The Atone Band. WAVE3’s Dawne Gee, a Juneteenth Jubilee commissioner, will emcee. Black tie affair.
WHERE: Muhammad Ali Center, 144 N. 6th St.
WHEN: June 17, 6-10 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: $150 per person. Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite.com. For more information about tickets, email June.Embers@louisvilleky.gov.
Lipstick Wars Poetry Slam
WHAT: Lipstick Wars is an open platform for women and girls of all races, ethnicities and unique backgrounds to express their truths, everyday struggles and victories through the art of slam poetry, educational workshops and other programming. Poets from all over the country will compete for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place cash prizes. Part of Brown-Forman Midnite Ramble Series and Louisville Juneteenth Festival by Black Complex Louisville.
WHERE: Old Forester’s Paristown Hall, 724 Brent St.
WHEN: June 17, 7 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Recommended for ages 16 and older. Free, no tickets needed. kentuckyperformingarts.org.
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Juneteenth Celebration Block Party
WHAT: The block party will have vendors, a food truck, community art project, free food tasting of prepackaged food that will be sold in the store and a pop up table selling fresh fruits and vegetables from local growers. Presented by Louisville Community Grocery and LACE.
WHERE: 400 Finzer St.
WHEN: June 17, 4-7 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: eventbrite.com.
3rd Annual Juneteenth Solidarity Ride
WHAT: This family friendly, casual, no-drop 13-mile bike ride celebrates Juneteenth. Helmets are required. Traffic laws will be followed.
WHERE: Shawnee Park, 4501 W. Broadway. Meet at restrooms across from football field in the park
WHEN: June 18, 9 a.m. to noon. Registration at 8 a.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Free. Begins and ends in Shawnee Park with turnaround in Willow Park. Or riders can extend their experience with additional miles. eventbrite.com
Race for Justice by Future Ancestors
WHAT: Participants will honor Breonna Taylor by running or walking 26 laps, one for every year she was alive, or by walking/running a 1.3-mile individual race.
WHERE: Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning Center, 3029 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd.
WHEN: June 18, 8-11 a.m.
MORE INFORMATION: $100 for 26 lap team (5 person running relay and 5 person walk/jog/run); $30 for 1.3 mile (5 lap) individual; $35 virtual run. futureancestors502.org; unsignup.com/Race/KY/Louisville/RaceForJustice502.
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Juneteenth Youth Jamboree
WHAT: Reviving Urban Neighborhoods (R.U.N.), Inc. will host this fun-filled family event where youth can win prizes by demonstrating their knowledge of Juneteenth facts.
WHERE: Berrytown Park, 1300 Heafer Road
WHEN: June 18, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Free. louisvilleky.gov.
MELANnaire Marketplace: Where Black Businesses Matter 2nd Annual Juneteenth Festival
WHAT: MELANnaire Marketplace presents WAKANDA FOREVER Festival featuring black owned venders, a gospel jubilee, Roots 101 Museum exhibit, food trucks, live entertainment, shopping, speakers, live art, fashion exhibit and more.
WHERE: 4th Street Live!, 400 S. 4th St.
WHEN: June 18-19, noon-7 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Free. louisvilleky.gov.
All White Day Party: Juneteenth Celebration Brunch
WHAT: Team Fire will perform music from the 70s, 80s and 90s and brunch catered by Sincerely Yours Catering. Proceeds benefit the Jeffersonville NAACP Youth Council Scholarship Fund.
WHERE: The Refinery, 500 Missouri Ave., Jeffersonville, Indiana
WHEN: June 19, 2 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Tickets start at $60. eventbrite.com
Reach features news clerk Gege Reed at greed@courier-journal.com.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Juneteenth 2022: Louisville events and celebrations in the city
