Learn From the Past at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center 50 E. Freedom Way, The Banks Recently named the best history museum in the country in USA Today’s 10Best, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is renowned for its focus on how oppression and slavery have impacted society. The museum does this by sharing stories of slavery, the Underground Railroad, the Civil Rights movement and those who are enslaved today. Permanent exhibits include “Slave Pen,” an 1800s holding pen recovered from a farm in Mason County, Kentucky, that’s a somber and sobering reminder of slavery’s history in the United States and our region. There is also “ESCAPE! Freedom Seekers and the Underground Railroad,” which uses storytelling, roleplaying and interactive activities to share stories of those who resisted slavery. The museum also hosts various traveling exhibits, events and programming aimed at promoting its mission of social justice and inclusive freedom. Photo: Facebook.com/FreedomCenter

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is once again bringing the community together to celebrate freedom for a special Juneteenth festival this year.

Juneteenth, held each year on June 19, is a celebration in African American communities of the end of slavery in the United States. It’s also a celebration of Black culture, Black resilience and true independence. In honor of the day, the Freedom Center will host its second-annual Juneteenth Jubilee, a one-day festival featuring free museum admission, live music, food trucks, programming, the return of a special Cincinnati Bengals guest and more along Freedom Way.

The Freedom Center says the Jubilee will be reminiscent of the earliest Juneteenth celebrations, bringing people together around music, food and community. Outside, the Jubilee will host food trucks, including El Cardenal Taqueria, Eliza Jane’s Bakery Truck, Just Jerks, streetpops and Sweets & Meats BBQ, as well as a community market featuring local vendors like Pour Candle Company, Kitabu Books, Stylish LeNese Boutique and many more.

The festival will also feature story times, children’s activities; exhibit activations, health, nutrition and financial wellness workshops, free diabetes testing from Breakthrough T1D; and Hoxworth’s mobile blood donation unit. Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. will also return to this year’s Jubilee to participate in a youth empowerment summit inside the Harriet Tubman Theater, as well as a photo and autograph session. On the Juneteenth Jubilee Stage, attendees can enjoy music from DJ Vader Mixx and performances by 2nd Wind Band.

The museum also has two new exhibits to explore. In This Place is the first permanent exhibit at the Freedom Center in 15 years and focuses on the museum’s power of place as it traces the footsteps of the early freedom seekers of the 19th century who crossed the Ohio River to Cincinnati’s impact and participation in historic movements, including Civil Rights, marriage equality, Black Lives Matter and more. And Faith & (in)Justice is a traveling exhibit developed by the Freedom Center that highlights the intersection of religion and social justice throughout American history.

At the end of the festival, Mike Wade & the Nasty Nati Brass Band will lead a symbolic march to the banks of the Ohio River, which thousands of people crossed during their journey on the Underground Railroad.

Juneteenth Jubilee runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 19 at the Freedom Center at 50 E. Freedom Way in downtown Cincinnati. For more information, visit freedomcenter.org.

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This article appears in May 29 – Jun 11, 2024.

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she...