Juneteenth is a day to celebrate freedom, but it also serves as a reminder of the ongoing fight for justice and equality.
Juneteenth is a federal holiday commemorating June 19, 1865, — the day when the last enslaved African Americans, living in Galveston, Texas, learned they had been freed — two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday in 2021.
“Juneteenth is a special day for us to remember freedom enforcement day,” said Kim Dulaney, vice president of education and programs at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center. “It is a day for us to remember that by law, we are free, we have been set free and we are not bound by the old racist laws that existed before that.”
But although the holiday is one to celebrate, it is also an opportunity to think about how to continue the fight for equality.
“This year, that’s very important, because we know there have been attacks on culturally specific things, on inclusion, on diversity,” Dulaney said. “So we want to come together and celebrate culture, be reminded that we do matter, that our stories matter.”
President Donald Trump has signed a flurry of executive orders since taking office in January — including one to do away with diversity, equity and inclusion programs. DEI initiatives are used by organizations to provide a fair and equitable environment to all individuals, particularly those who have been historically underrepresented or marginalized.
“This country has not yet healed all of the wrongs that were built into the foundation this country was built on, yet they are already trying to do away with the medicine — diversity, equity, inclusion,” Dulaney said.
DEI programs are “essential” for those in marginalized communities, especially for those with multiple marginalized identities, said T.J. Gordon, co-founder of the Chicagoland Disabled People of Color Coalition.
“We cannot live without things like Medicaid or Medicare, affordable and accessible housing, access to school and work that is based on our needs,” Gordon said. “Those things are necessary, and I don’t think it’s just a DEI thing. It’s a basic human right.”
Despite the threats, Juneteenth also stands as a testament to the progress and resilience of Black communities.
“We still have the freedom to gather, and celebrate, and to remember the facts of history,” Dulaney said.
Communities across the Chicago area have planned an array of events to celebrate the holiday.
Parties, performances, panel discussions and service events will be held beginning Wednesday and through the weekend.
5th Annual Accessible Juneteenth
4 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday
UIC Quad, 750 S. Halsted St.
The University of Illinois Chicago Disability Cultural Center, the Chicagoland Disabled People of Color Coalition, and the Center for Racial and Disability Justice at Northwestern University will host the fifth Accessible Juneteenth, to celebrate the Black disability community.
“The ultimate goal of Accessible Juneteenth is to celebrate and display Black disabled joy, to present how the Black identity and disability identity can come together, and how a person with multiple marginalized identities can enjoy their full self,” Gordon said.
The event will feature food, music and open mic performances.
Juneteenth Music Festival
4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday
375 W. Briarcliff Road, Bolingbrook
The Village of Bolingbrook will host a Juneteeth Music Festival. The festival will include live Blues performances, silent disco and kids tent and live house music.
The event will also include food vendors, a marketplace featuring Black-owned and local businesses, and free health and wellness services.
Parking and entry to the event is free.
Juneteenth Breakfast with Jonathan Eig
7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Thursday
1001 N. Crosby St.
Renew Chicago will host a Juneteenth breakfast and interview with author Jonathan Eig.
Eig, author of biographies on Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and others, will speak on the powerful intersection of race and sports, drawing from his extensive work chronicling the lives of trailblazers who broke barriers and shaped history.
The event will also include a performance by tenor Rod Dixon.
Tickets are free and can be ordered online.
Juneteenth Community BBQ
8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday
The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, 740 E. 56th Place.
In honor of Juneteenth, the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center will present a daylong Juneteenth celebration.
The event will include a panel discussion, live performances and family friendly games and activities.
Juneteenth Day of Service
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday
Hamilton Park, 513 W. 72nd St.
My Block My Hood My City will host a day of service and celebration in honor of Juneteenth.
The event will kick off with a service initiative to help seniors through the summer. Volunteers will deliver box fans and bottled water to seniors on the South and West sides.
A family friendly celebration will follow at the park with food, music, bounce houses and face painting.
“This Juneteenth, we’re not just remembering history—we’re honoring it,” said Jahmal Cole, founder and CEO of My Block My Hood My City. “By serving our elders and celebrating with our neighbors, we’re honoring the true spirit of the day.”
Planks and Pistils Flower Installation
10 a.m. Thursday
Seward Park, 375 W. Elm St.
Florist Planks and Pistils will display their 6th annual Juneteenth Floral Remembrance installation. The installations are created to highlight Black stories and inspire human flourishing.
This year the installation, called, “A Higher Law,” will focus on how the care and protection of Black life is fueled by a higher law and inspired the William Seward quote, “There is a higher law than the constitution,” the florist said.
The installation is open to the public.
1865 Fest
Noon to 8 p.m. Thursday and 3 to 8 p.m. Friday
Garfield Park, 100 Central Park Ave.
The 1865 Coalition — made up of community organizations, residents, stakeholders, law enforcement, educational institutions, elected officials, local businesses and churches — will host a “Juneteenth” celebration at Garfield Park.
The two-day event will include cultural family activities, art, education workshops, live music and food.
Tickets can be purchased online.
The Field Museum’s Juneteenth African Fashion Show
Noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday
The Field Museum, 1400 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr.
The Field Museum will hold a fashion show featuring the work of local designers inspired by the museum’s special exhibitions, “Africa Fashion” and “Connecting Threads: Africa Fashion in Chicago.”
The event will highlight original pieces by local designers, including Stephane St. Jaymes, My Obioma and more. The fashion show will include a live DJ performance and audience giveaways.
The event is included with general admission tickets.
Bronzeville Children’s Museum Juneteenth Celebration
1 to 3 p.m. Thursday
9301 S. Stony Island Ave.
The Bronzeville Children’s Museum will host a Juneteenth celebration that will include music, games and other activities.
Admission to the museum is $5.
In Our Ancestors’ Footsteps: We Can’t Be Broken
1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday
436 E, 47th St.
Community Renewal Society is hosting a Juneteenth celebration to honor the past, celebrate the present and work toward Black liberation.
The free event is open to the public and will include a DJ, food, art and activities for children.
Guests can register online.
Black Joy & Wellness
2 to 6 p.m. Thursday
Promontory Point, 5491 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr.
The Brown People Foundation will host a joy and wellness event that will include a restorative yoga class, massages and sound healing.
To attend the event, guests must make a donation of any amount. Donations can be made online.
Juneteenth Black History Bike Tour
6 to 8 p.m. Thursday
129 Lake St., Oak Park
The Oak Park River Forest Museum will host a Black History bike tour in honor of Juneteenth. The tour will give guests an opportunity to learn about the contributions and influence African Americans had on Oak Park and River Forest.
The tour will be led by Executive Director Frank Lipo and will stop at several of the sites, including Oak Park Village Hall, Julian Middle School and the former Mount Carmel Baptist Church.
Attendees are asked to bring their own bicycle, helmet and water bottle.
RSVP at oprfhistorymatters@sbcglobal.net.
Juneteenth Celebration with The Magnificent Mile Orchestra
6 to 8 p.m. Thursday
Time Out Market, 916 W. Fulton Market
Time Out Market will celebrate Juneteenth and will feature a live performance by the Magnificent Mile Orchestra. The six-piece band will play jazz, R&B and hip-hop.
Tickets to the free event can be ordered online.
Transcendance: A Black Trans Variety Show
7 to 9 p.m. Thursday
Dorothy, 2500 W. Chicago Ave.
Transcendance will host its Juneteenth edition of its Black trans variety show. The event will be held at Dorothy and includes local Black trans bands, burlesque and drag performances.
Guests must be 21 to attend. Tickets are $16.24 and can be purchased online.
Juneteenth Celebration — Kindred the Family Soul & More
7 to 10 p.m. Thursday
4701 S. Martin Luther King Dr.
The National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum will host performances in honor of Juneteenth. The event will feature a headlining performance by Kindred the Family Soul, along with other special guests that “promise to uplift and inspire.”
Guests will be able to enjoy an evening filled with music, culture, and community while honoring the significance of Juneteenth.
Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased online.
Juneteenth Celebration and New Community Garden
Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday
616-620 Woodruff Ave., Joliet
In honor of Juneteenth, Equity and Transformation will host a community celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the launch of EAT’s newly established community garden and wellness center in Joliet.
The Community Garden and Wellness Center was designed as part of EAT’s United We EAT Campaign, an extension to its Black Wellness Program aiming to improve food security by providing fresh food to families living in food apartheid, or communities that lack access to healthy, affordable food due to systemic disinvestment.
The free event will include food, music, storytelling activities, guest speakers and tours of the new facilities.
Juneteenth Festival in West Pullman
1 to 6 p.m. Saturday
821 W. 115th St.
The Far South Community Development Corp. will host its annual Juneteenth Festival. The free event is open to all ages and will include live music, food from local Black-owned restaurants, a small-business marketplace and a resource vendor fair.