Juneteenth events in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky

Luann Gibbs, Cincinnati Enquirer
·8 min read
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Cincinnati's Juneteenth Parade takes place Monday, June 19. Pictured: The inaugural Cincinnati Juneteenth Parade in 2022.
Cincinnati's Juneteenth Parade takes place Monday, June 19. Pictured: The inaugural Cincinnati Juneteenth Parade in 2022.

The 13th Amendment guaranteed an end to slavery throughout the United States, but not everyone in Confederate territory was immediately free. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation became effective in 1863, it wasn't able to be implemented in places still under Confederate control. Because of this, some enslaved people in the westernmost Confederate state of Texas would not be freed until years later.

Freedom came on June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. This day came to be known as "Juneteenth" by the newly freed people in Texas. The Juneteenth holiday marks our country's second independence day and has been celebrated for a long time in the Black community.

Juneteenth 2023 celebrations around Greater Cincinnati

Thursday, June 15

Juneteenth Community Blood Drive, 3-7 p.m., Southwest Church, 150 Remick Blvd., Springboro. springborojuneteenth.com.

Friday, June 16

Newport Juneteenth Celebration, 5-10 p.m., Southgate Street School, 215 Southgate St. Hosted by Daylin Garland. Free.

Community Symposium: Family Matters and DEI, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, Southwest Church, 150 Remick Blvd., Springboro. Symposium hosted by Sinclair Community College. springborojuneteenth.com.

Springboro Jubilee Dinner, 5:30 p.m. Springboro Church of Christ, 5 W. Mill St. Enjoy a night of jazz and share a meal together in honor of the city's Underground Railroad legacy. Ages 21-up. $75-up. springborojuneteenth.com.

Village of Golf Manor Juneteenth Community Celebration, 4-9 p.m., Volunteer Park, 6441 Wiehe Road. Enjoy vendors, food, music and activities. Bring blanket or lawn chair. Parking available at municipal building (6450 Wiehe Road). Free.

Wyoming Juneteenth Freedom Day, 6-10 p.m., Wyoming Civic Center, 1 Worthington Ave. Includes local vendors, food, free health screenings, a kids' zone, face painting, balloon artist, music with Jam With Us and DJ Vic Hunter, and a cash bar. Free. wyomingcommunityinaction.com.

Juneteenth: "The Galveston Story," 2 p.m. Friday-Monday, Harriet Tubman Theater, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 50 E. Freedom Way, Downtown. This documentary film explores the pivotal date of June 19, 1865, as well as the days before and after. Included with museum admission. freedomcenter.org.

In 2020, the City of Cincinnati raised the Juneteenth flag for the first time in history. This year the flag will be raised on Friday, June 16 at noon.
In 2020, the City of Cincinnati raised the Juneteenth flag for the first time in history. This year the flag will be raised on Friday, June 16 at noon.

Raising the Juneteenth Flag, noon, Hamilton County Courthouse, 1000 Main St., Downtown. Free.

Raising the Juneteenth Flag, noon, Cincinnati City Hall, 801 Plum St., West End. Free.

Saturday, June 17

Cincinnati Juneteenth Festival, noon-9 p.m. Saturday, 2-6 p.m. Sunday, Eden Park, 950 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams. Celebrate the end of slavery in the United States at this fun, family-friendly festival. Two stages of music, supervised children's play area, historical reenactors, health screenings, vendors, art, food, chess tournament and a soul revue with a tribute to Aretha Franklin. On Sunday there's a Father's Day concert at the park's Seasongood Pavilion. Shuttle van service available along Gilbert Avenue to festival area. Free admission. juneteenthcincinnati.org.

Covington Juneteenth Celebration, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Lincoln Grant Scholar House and Randolph Park, 824 Greenup St. Features free food, games, music, vendor booths, African dancers, guest panel, health screenings and social services information booths. Hosted by St. Elizabeth Healthcare and Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission. Free.

Covington Juneteenth Freedom Day Parade, 10 a.m. E. Ninth St. at Greenup St. Parade led by Grand Marshall Richard Hunter ends at Covington Landing for all-day celebration. facebook.com.

Covington Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration: The Gateway to Freedom, 11a.m.-11 p.m., Covington Landing, 1 Madison Ave. Celebrate freedom at the landmark where Margaret Garner walked across the Ohio River on ice to freedom. Food, games, bounce house, swing out dance, community resources, spoken word and live music from Soul Pocket, Rhythm of Soul, and the Rollins Davis Band. Free. facebook.com.

Hamilton Juneteenth Celebration, noon-9 p.m., Marcum Park, 116 Dayton St. Food trucks, vendors, live music at RiversEdge with Natural Progression from 5:30-7 p.m. and DJ Party in the Park from 7-8:30 p.m. Free.

Jerina's Juneteenth Food Festival, noon-8 p.m., Jerina's Lounge, 7759 Reading Road, Roselawn. Food trucks, vendors, giveaways, live DJs and more. Free admission.

Juneteenth Panel Discussion, 11 a.m., Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine. Community leaders and business owners discuss history and importance of the holiday. Free, reservations requested. findlaymarket.org.

Paloozanoire Juneteenth Block Party, 4-11 p.m., The Banks, E. Freedom Way, Downtown. Party in the Dora. Presented by Fifth Third Bank. Free. paloozanoire.com.

Uncle Nearest whiskey honors the legacy of Nearest Green, a formerly enslaved man who taught Jack Daniels how to make whiskey. The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center hosts a tasting during its Juneteenth SpeakFreely event on Saturday.
Uncle Nearest whiskey honors the legacy of Nearest Green, a formerly enslaved man who taught Jack Daniels how to make whiskey. The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center hosts a tasting during its Juneteenth SpeakFreely event on Saturday.

SpeakFreely: Juneteenth Evening at the Museum, 6:30-10 p.m., National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 50 E. Freedom Way, Downtown. Themed as a modern-day speakeasy, this event takes you back in time to when underground speakeasies brought people together from all classes and backgrounds. Includes music by DJ Guy Wes, Destiny L, spoken word performances, and whiskey tasting by Uncle Nearest. $20. freedomcenter.org.

Springboro Juneteenth Jubilee, noon-9 p.m., North Park Amphitheatre, 195 Tamarack Trail. Enjoy live music, local vendors, food trucks and more. A basketball tournament takes place from 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday at Coffman Family YMCA, 88 Remick Blvd., Springboro. Runs June 16-18. springborojuneteenth.com.

Springboro Juneteenth Jubilee: 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament, 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Coffman Family YMCA, 88 Remick Blvd. Fun for kids, teens and adults. T-shirt for all and trophies for winners. springborojuneteenth.com.

Underground Railroad Tours, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Springboro Area Museum, 110 S. Main St., Springboro. Pick up map and take self-guided tour of eight unique sites. Volunteers at each stop detail how Quaker ancestors helped enslaved people on their path to freedom. Free. springborojuneteenth.com.

Young Black Genius Juneteenth Block Party, 2-6 p.m., Ziegler Park, 1322 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine. Celebrates Black youth, business, history, community and culture. Vendors, youth resources and more. Free.

Sunday, June 18

ArtisanFest513: Juneteenth Market, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Hosted by Queen City Lemonade. Eventbrite.com.

Cincinnati Juneteenth Festival Father's Day Concert, 2-6 p.m. Sunday, Eden Park, 950 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams. Free admission. Live music from Grammy Award-winning gospel group the Charles Fold Singers, Neva Ford Nations, Praise Ekeng, Empty Vessels, MLK Choir, James McCray Chorale, Malcolm Turner, Psalm, Heavenly Doves, Ed "Sax" Thomas and more. juneteenthcincinnati.org.

Ed "Sax" Thomas is one of the scheduled performers at the Juneteenth Father's Day Concert at Seasongood Pavilion at Eden Park, on Sunday, June 18.
Ed "Sax" Thomas is one of the scheduled performers at the Juneteenth Father's Day Concert at Seasongood Pavilion at Eden Park, on Sunday, June 18.

Cookout: A Juneteenth Celebration, 2-8 p.m., Five Points Alley, 2425 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills. Food, games and vibes hosted by Cincinnati Young Black Professionals. Free. eventbrite.com.

Elsmere Juneteenth Freedom Day Parade, 10 a.m., Garvey Ave., Elsmere. Parade Grand Marshall Richard Hunter.

Father's Day Brunch/Juneteenth Show, Bloom OTR, 1120 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine. Hosted by JMJ.

Juneteenth Hip Hop Brunch, noon-3 p.m., Revel OTR, 111 E. Twelfth St., Over-the-Rhine. Rich AunTea and Cincinnati Urban Box celebrate two years in business for black- and women-owned brands. Brunch includes pasta bar and traditional breakfast items. Mimosas and drink specials for purchase. $50. eventbrite.com.

Juneteenth Tasting Event, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine. Enjoy sampling food from Black-owned businesses. Tasting tickets are $10 for five, or $20 for 12. Eventbrite.com.

Juneteenth Weekend: White Tie Gala, 5 p.m., Netherlands Plaza Hotel, 35 W. Fifth St., Downtown. Cincinnati welcomes King Okatakyi Asafo Boakye III, the royal family and delegates of the National Minority and PDI Supply Chain Stakeholder Summit. The Sanzule Kingdom became the first African nation to free itself from the British Empire and then went on to establish the democracy and government of Ghana by way of Kwame Nkrumah. $75-up. eventbrite.com.

Monday, June 19

Cincinnati Juneteenth Parade, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., West End. This parade celebrates freedom, culture and community. It begins at Linn and Court streets, travels down Court, turns right on Plum and ends at the corner of Plum and Richmond streets. thecojp.com.

Brown Sugar Fashion Gala: A Juneteenth Celebration, 6:30-9:30 p.m., 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Culture, soul and fashion event presented by Urban Ambitions. $10-$35. eventbrite.com.

Community Days: Juneteenth, Great Parks of Hamilton County. No motor vehicle permit required to drive into Great Parks on Community Days.

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center offers special programs and free admission on Monday, June 19 in celebration of Juneteenth.
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center offers special programs and free admission on Monday, June 19 in celebration of Juneteenth.

Fifth Third Community Day: Juneteenth, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 50 E. Freedom Way, Downtown. Special activities include a community art project led by artist Brent Billingsley, a DJ spinning Afrobeats, and a social and emotional learning workshop for kids. Free admission. freedomcenter.org.

Free People's Party: A Black House Experience, 8 p.m.-midnight, Lost & Found, 22 E. Fourteenth St., Over-the-Rhine. Enjoy deep house, soulful house, garage, acid house and more with Rah D, Jesse James and Bryston Bryant. $5-$10. eventbrite.com.

Juneteenth Fireworks Festival, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Woodlawn Community Center, 10050 Woodlawn Blvd. Indoor basketball competition, outdoor 3-on-3 competition, musical performances, food and merchandise vendors. Fireworks display closes out the night. Free. beautifulwoodlawn.us.

Juneteenth Freedom Day: Discovering Your Roots, 10 a.m., First African American Church, 21 Girard St., Florence. Memorial and educational ceremony hosted by the City of Florence and For Family By Family. Celebration follows at Stringtown Park. Free.

Juneteenth Freedom Day: Discovering Your Roots Celebration, noon-5:30 p.m., Stringtown Park, 7340 Burlington Pike, Florence. Family-friendly activities, live DJ, face painting, local agency and vendors, educational and health services, food trucks, arts and more. Free.

Cincinnati Reds vs. Colorado Rockies, 7:10 p.m., Great American Ball Park, 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown. Special promotion: Juneteenth sticker sheet giveaway. reds.com.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Juneteenth 2023 events in Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky