The annual Juneteenth Festival celebrates the legal end of slavery in the United States, a tradition with historical roots in Texas that began in Cincinnati in 1988.
According to the Cincinnati Juneteenth website, “On June 19, 1865, a Union General arrived in Galveston, TX, and re-issued Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Thus the name ‘Juneteenth.’ Texans have been celebrating Juneteenth ever since.”
And this year’s 33rd celebration — slated to take place June 19-21 — has had to move online as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
In a press release, organizers said: “Unfortunately, COVID-19 and the necessity of social distancing have forced cancellation of the 2020 festival that had been scheduled for the weekend of June 20. However, festival organizers are treating Juneteenth patrons to the next best thing to being together in Eden Park. Juneteenth Cincinnati’s Lydia Morgan announced that her organization, in cooperation with the musicians who had been scheduled to perform on Juneteenth weekend, is producing ‘Virtual Juneteenth,’ a feature-length video concert. Groups featured in the video will include Last Boppers, Ms. Jaz, Stone City Band, Unique Soul, Nigerian Dancers, the Juneteenth Celebration Choir, Prodigal Sunz, Dunimis, Renee Hill, Tameka Purce, and Neva Ford.”
The concert is free and will be screened on local cable channels and social media June 19, 20 and 21, with a special Father’s Day concert on Sunday.
The weekend-long fest usually kicks off with a parade featuring flags of the African diaspora followed by free musical performances, living history reenactments, health screenings, a kids’ area with crafts and games and vendors scattered around offering food and shopping opportunities. Sunday, there’s typically a Father’s Day concert, with Gospel music.
At 10 a.m. on Friday, June 19, there will also be a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony at Cincinnati City Hall. The event will be livestreamed but the public is welcome to attend.
Get more details about Juneteenth events at juneteenthcincinnati.org.
This article appears in May 6 – Jun 14, 2020.
