Juneteenth events in Cincinnati to celebrate the culture!
Juneteenth is an annual celebration and acknowledgment commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Enjoy plenty of Juneteenth events in the Greater Cincinnati Area. Check out parties, festivals, parades, cookouts, networking, flag ceremonies, concerts, film screenings, and more!
Take time to celebrate African American culture and learn more about its past, present, and future. Many of these events are FREE. So, grab your family, friends, and church members and check out these Juneteenth events.
The information in this article is as current as the publication date. Please confirm the information before acting.
2024 Juneteenth Events in Cincinnati
Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration
Friday, June 14
6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Wyoming Civic Center (Wyoming)
Free Entry
Enjoy live entertainment, food from local businesses, shopping from local black-owned vendors, and activities for all ages. Local Healthcare providers will conduct free blood pressure screenings on-site, Mental Health providers will share resources, and other outreach service providers will be present. There will also be free face painting and balloon artists, arts and crafts, and more!
Juneteenth Festival
Saturday, June 15
Noon – 9 p.m.
Eden Park (Walnut Hills)
Free Entry
Over 25 performances on two stages will reflect the shared heritage within the African diaspora. Genres include blues, jazz, R&B, Latin jazz, African dancing, and the Voices of Freedom poetry slam.
The festival features activities for kids, including crafts, books, games, and horseback rides. Festival goers can visit, learn, and shop with 50 vendors and exhibitors. Vendors offer a wide selection, including hot dogs, ribs, chicken, Asian fusion, fish, lobster, sundaes, and funnel cakes.
Juneteenth Parade: Roots and Rhythm
Sunday, June 16
10 a.m.
E Court Street (Downtown)
Free Entry
The annual parade pays homage to the roots of African American culture, from the traditions passed down through generations to the stories of resilience and triumph that have shaped the collective Black identity.
Related Article: Things to do in Black Cincinnati this year
Juneteenth Father’s Day Concert
Sunday, June 16
2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Eden Park (Walnut Hills)
Free Entry
Featuring various inspirational spiritual music and praise dancing in Seasongood Pavilion at Eden Park. Live performances include genres such as jazz, gospel, and soul.
Juneteenth Jubilee
Wednesday, June 19
10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (The Banks)
Free Entry
Celebrate true independence with live music, programming, community vendors, and food trucks for a jubilant takeover of Freedom Way. Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Orlando Brown, Jr. will be the event’s featured guest, delivering a motivational speech followed by a photo and autograph session. The Juneteenth Jubilee will culminate in a march down the banks to the Ohio River, the symbolic River Jordan over which thousands of enslaved people crossed into freedom on the Underground Railroad.
Related Article: Celebrate Juneteenth by Supporting Black-owned Businesses
History of Juneteenth
Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people were freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the end of slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. On June 17, 2021, it officially became a federal holiday.
Further Readings
Related Article: Check out these Cincinnati Black historic sites
These Cincinnati Juneteenth events are informative, fun, and entertaining! If there are other things to do in Cincinnati we missed, submit them to The Voice of Black Cincinnati Calendar.
Written by: Crystal Kendrick
The Voice of Black Cincinnati is a media company designed to educate, recognize and create opportunities for African Americans. Want to find local news, events, job posting, scholarships, and a database of local Black-owned businesses? Visit our homepage, explore other articles, subscribe to our newsletter, like our Facebook page, join our Facebook group, and text VOBC to 513-270-3880.
Juneteenth images provided by Adobe Stock
