8 minute read
Juneteenth Celebration Events
from June 14-20, 2023
JUNETEENTH Celebration Events
June10
JUNETEENTH FAIR AT MANDRAKE PARK
3858 S. Cottage Grove 11 am-5 pm Music, rides, petting zoo and more. FREE
June 11
EXTRAVAGANZA ON ELLIS
1000 E. 76th St. 11 am-6 pm
Juneteenth Block Party celebrates African American heritage with a day of recognition and restoration, food, games, music, vendors and much more. FREE at allevents.in
June 16
FREEDOM MARKET
Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave. 5-9 pm
The joy of total freedom endures with the third annual Refine Collective and MCA market, a celebration of Black creativity and entrepreneurship. 50+ local Black-owned businesses and creators selling a range of goods, from one-of-a-kind clothing and accessories to home goods and beauty. Surprise giveaways and goodie bags. Performance by Double Dutch Club, a Chicago based non-profit of women ages 40+ encouraging movement and community through the fun and nostalgia of Double Dutch; take the opportunity to learn! Admission $20; day-of $25 at www.ticketfalcon. com/e/freedom_market_2023/
June 16
EMANCIPATION BALL
Rockwell on the River, 3057 N. Rockwell St. 7 pm-Midnight
Taking things to the next level in a Juneteenth celebration of community, culture, creativity and commerce. Open bar, a diverse array of elevated cuisine, live bands, visual art installations. 21+ Tickets $125; $165 VIP w/riverfront lounge access, cigar rolling station, swag bag, and more at eventnoire.com
June 16-18
1865 FEST
Garfield Park Music Court Circle (Madison & Monroe/ Hamlin & Central Park)
Military honors for Black veterans, food, cultural activities, and a Father’s Day GrillOff. The 1865 Coalition is a collaboration of community organizations, residents, stakeholders, law enforcement, educational institutions, elected officials, local businesses, and churches who have come together to host the three-day celebration. Their goal is achieved through cultural activities, art, education, sports, entertainment, community engagement, state-wide partnerships and strategic planning. 1865festchicago. com
June 17
COOK COUNTY’S CELEBRATION OF JUNETEENTH 2023
Live panel discussions, arts, activities, resource fair: 8 am-4 pm at Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Jackson Blvd.
8 am start with a health equity breakfast with Dr. Lamar Hasbrouck, COO of the Cook County Department of Public Health; Dr. Ngozi Ezike, president, Sinai Chicago; Yumeka Brown, commissioner, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District; Donna Miller, Cook County Commissioner, 8th district; and James Williams, UChicago Medicine, moderated by Donald Dew, president/CEO Habilitative Systems Inc.
A justice panel at 10:15 am will include 3rd District State Sen. Robert Peters, Ill.; Joel K. Johnson, president/CEO TASC Inc.; Mark Mitchell, associate director, Teamwork Englewood; Sherone Mitchell, Cook County public defender; and Nathaniel Gaither, Lawndale Christian Legal Center; moderated by 3rd District Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry.
A wealth panel at 11:30 am on “Understanding Black Entrepreneurship” will feature Jared Evans, community manager, JP Morgan Chase & Co.; Donte Winston, president, Excel Construction Labor Inc.; Michael Nance, co-founder, Yellow Banana; Mitchell Johnson, chairman and CEO, My Community Plan Foundation; and Melvin
Bailey, executive director of the Community Male Empowerment Project; moderated by Marcell Jackson, activist and entrepreneur. Dr. Verona S. E. Portis, Chicago Public Schools principal, will moderate the 1 pm panel that includes Laurie Bryant, director of the Mathnasium, Hyde Park; Bobbie Ponder, international student; Crystal Y. Dyer, Chicago Youth Travel Adventures; and Kaleb Autman, student.
Commissioner Dennis Deer (2nd district) and Commissioner Stanley Moore (4th District) led the push in 2020 to establish Juneteenth as a day of remembrance and an official paid holiday in Cook County. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed it into law in 2021.
Juneteenth Committee Co-Chair Donald Dew said, "As we pause to celebrate that moment in time when we as African Americans learned of our freedom, let us present, examine and embrace comprehensive strategies that will ensure racial equity in all aspects of life to insure our mutual wellbeing."
FREE to the public. Registration encouraged at juneteenthillinois.com/ upcoming-events/
June 17
JUNETEENTH FAMILY FESTIVAL
110th & Longwood Drive 11 am-7 pm
Fitness and fun with African dancing, djembe, drumming lessons, live entertainment, music, storytelling, food, Thrive cardio dancing, vendors, kid & family activities. FREE, but tickets at allevents.in
June 17
ALL WHITE YACHT PARTY
Anita Dee Yacht Charters, 200 Breakwater Access 12:15-4:30 pm DJs mixing hip-hop, Top 40, Latin, house and more, in all white (recommended) attire, daytime yacht party. 21+ Tickets $50+ on Eventbrite.com and Seetickets.com
June 17
BRONZEVILLE’S JUNETEENTH
Absolutely Anything Essential, 3521 S. King Drive Noon-6 pm Village-themed, family-friendly celebration will offer live entertainment for adults and youth inside and outside. Local historians, visual and performing artists and crafters will showcase creative art, share stories, and entertain. The event aims to retain the memory of emancipation for African Americans and the price of freedom for all Americans throughout the nation’s history. Cultural wear encouraged. FREE. Info on Eventbrite.com
June 17
EVANSTON’S 4TH ANNUAL JUNETEENTH PARADE
Robert Crown Community Center, 1801 Main St. 10:45 am
Starting from the Crown Center, heading west and then northeast, parade will feature the South Shore Drill Team and Jesse White Tumblers, followed by community celebration of art, music, food and speakers at Ingraham Park, west of the Morton Civic Center, until 6 p.m. Celebrate the progress since Juneteenth, but also recognize the work that still needs to be done to achieve true equality. eventbrite.com
June 17
JUNETEENTH FREEDOM EXHIBIT
Pose Cultural Art Gallery, 2136 W. Chicago Ave. 3 pm
Opening Reception of "The Big Piece of Chicken " exhibit, an expression of Black art, success and sacrifice. Highlighting works by artist BrotherZone, poetry by Maurice Hayes, dance presentation by Mildred Riviera music, vibes, raffles and more.
June 17
JUNETEENTH PROGRAM & LEGLER PRODUCE MARKET
Legler Regional Library, 115 S. Pulaski Road 11 am-2 pm
Using the book, “Watermelon and Red Birds” as inspiration, Artist in Residence Alexandra Antoine will provide a choice of African-diasporic seeds and oil-based markers to decorate pots to take home. FREE, but reserve a spot at eventbrite.com
June 17
JUNETEENTH RESOURCE FAIR
Harry S. Truman College, 1145 W. Wilson Ave. 11 am-3 pm
Voice of the People hosts Uptown community resource fair, with games, prizes, live entertainment and more. Community partners will set up informational tables and participants will collaborate on an Uptown Family Tree art project. FREE eventbrite. com
Evanston's Annual Juneteenth Parade
Dr. Ngozi Ezike at Cook County's Celebration of Juneteenth 2023
June 17
JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION IN NORTH CENTER
St. Benedict Parish, 3900 N. Leavitt St. 11 am-2 pm
This event for all will feature entertainment, food, and a marketplace. And activities including hair braiding, dance lessons, horseback riding, sword play, yo-yo, and more. Highlighting Black-owned businesses and providing activities for all ages. FREE.
June 17
2023 ACCESSIBLE JUNETEENTH
The UIC Quad, 750 S. Halsted St. 1-5 pm Chicagoland Disabled People of Color Coalition, UIC Disability Cultural Center, Access Living, the Chicago Disability Pride Parade, and the Institute on Disability and Human Development will host the event featuring a DJ, food, giveaways, an open-mic, and resources from Black-owned and disabilityowned businesses. Attend in person or virtually at go.uic.edu
June 17
JUNETEENTH POP-UP SHOP
Fosco Park, 1312 S. Racine Ave. 11 am-4 pm
Cookout celebration will have an Old School family feel with good eatin’ from the grill, networking, shopping from 20 Black-owned businesses, music, Double-Dutch contest, hopscotch, limbo, raffles, games. FREE entry and parking. allevents.in
June 17
JUNETEENTH WEST FEST
Columbus Park, 500 S. Central Ave.
Noon-10 p.m.
West Side Arts Council offers events in jubilation of African American freedom. FREE, but reservations at eventbrite.com
June 18
JUNETEENTH VILLAGE FEST
Douglass Park, 1401 S. Sacramento Drive
Noon-8 pm
Village Fest will feature musical performances by Angie Stone, Marsha Ambrosius, Talib Kweli, BJ The Chicago Kid, and Kindred and the Family Soul. Attendees can also enjoy local performers, food vendors, community-based organizations and resources, carnival rides, and activities for all ages.
June 18
HYDE PARK
JUNETEENTH FEST
Harper Court, 5235 S. Harper Court Noon-7 pm
Hawkins House of Horton, Silver Room, Connect Gallery and Lululemon offer dance classes, performances, food and fun.
June 19
SOUTH SIDE TOUR WITH SHERMANN “DILLA” THOMAS
South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Drive Noon
Get on the bus to celebrate Juneteenth with Chicago’s own griot. Two-hour tour, gift bag, refreshments and beach party at South Shore Cultural Center. $50 at eventnoire.com
19 360 CELEBRATES JUNETEENTH
94th floor, 875 N. Michigan Ave. 9 am-4 pm 10-11 a.m. Unveiling of freedom quilt, signifiicant during slavery; Black vendors' market, DJs, and guest performers. Ticket sales benefit I Am a Gentleman, a nonprofit dedicated to engaging, enriching and empowering young men for careers, healthy lifestyles, marketable skills and balanced relationships. $19 at Eventbrite.com
June 19
THE DU’S 3RD ANNUAL JUNETEENTH COMMUNITY BBQ
DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, 740 E. 56th Place 10 am-8 pm
In the spirit of the ancestors, the DuSable will offer family activities (horseback riding, petting zoo), health testing, drum village, author’s pavilion, adult lounge, giveaways, inflatables, music performances, food & drink. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, there will be a discussion with legend Kool Moe Dee. FREE, but tickets at allevents.in
June 19
JUNETEENTH & FATHER’S DAY FESTIVAL
Memorial Park District, 639 N. Wolf Rd, Hillside 2-6 pm
Join Illinois Speaker of the House Emanuel “Chris” Welch for food & drinks, games and activities, bounce houses, vendors, artists, entertainers. FREE to the public. Reserve at Eventbrite.com
Juneteenth Village Fest
South Side Tour with Shermann "Dilla" Thomas
The Du's annual Juneteenth Community BBQ
