What is Juneteenth, and why is it important?
Short for “June Nineteenth,” Juneteenth is a holiday celebrating freedom! It is also referred to as Jubilee Day, Freedom Day, Emancipation Day and Liberation Day.
So how is Juneteenth different from Independence Day? Many Americans recognize July 4, 1776 as a day of freedom. Unfortunately, many Americans were still enslaved on that day, and many days after that. Their slavery continued until June 19, 1865. That’s when a Union Army General by the name of General Gordon Granger and his troops arrived in Galveston, Texas. Granger took control of the state and made sure that ALL enslaved people were freed. He did so more than two years after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
Lincoln had proclaimed the emancipation of enslaved people on January 1, 1863. But it was slave owners who were tasked with telling their slaves they had been freed. Many slave owners didn’t share the news. In fact, some intentionally waited until after the harvest season to inform their slaves that they were free. Granger’s arrival in Texas on June 18, 1865 changed all that. An estimated 250,000 slaves were freed! It was a great historic day when he read General Order No. 3: “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”
One year later, Texas freedmen celebrated “Jubilee Day” and established the annual holiday of Juneteenth.
How is Juneteenth celebrated?
On June 17th, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Juneteenth, the oldest known celebration of the end of slavery in the United States, is observed every year on June 19.
Now more than ever, Juneteenth is growing and being observed by organizations and communities around the country. Even institutions such as the Henry Ford Museum, the Smithsonian have begun to sponsor Juneteenth-centered events and activities.
Events celebrating Juneteenth include everything from prayer services to barbecues to playlists. Here are a few Juneteenth events happening around Cincinnati this year. And before you head to an event, learn about the meanings of the symbols on the Juneteenth flag here.
Events Near Cincinnati, Dayton, Northern Kentucky
Wade in the Water
June 8, 2025 2-4 pm
Smale Park (behind the Suspension Bridge), Cincinnati, OH
Juneteenth Career Fair and Expungement Clinic
June 12, 2025 11 am- 1 pm
Kentucky Career Center at 1324 Madison Ave, Covington KY 41011
Find places that are willing to hire people in need of second chances, learn if you are eligible for expungement, see if your voting rights have already been restored, and find out how to get involved with organizations
Golf Manor Junteenth
June 13, 2025 4-9 pm
Wyoming Community in Action Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration
June 13,2025 6-10 pm
Wyoming Village Green at 412 Wyoming Ave., 45215
Midwest Regional Black Culture Fest
June 14, 2025 12- 5 pm
Washington Park at 1230 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH 45202
38th Annual Juneteenth Festival in Eden Park
June 14, 2025 12-9 pm
Festival in Eden Park at 950 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45202
2025 will be Cincinnati’s 38th Annual Juneteenth Festival. Celebrate the end of slavery with food, fun, shopping, history, historical re-enactments, and two stages of great music. FREE.
Juneteenth Cincinnati has produced the annual Juneteenth Festival since 1988. It began in Daniel Drake Park in Kennedy Heights and moved in the early 1990’s to Eden Park in partnership with the Cincinnati Park Board.
Although not the first celebration of Juneteenth in Cincinnati, it has been Cincinnati’s only annually celebrated Juneteenth event.
Father’s Day Concert in Eden Park
June 15, 2025 2-6 pm
Eden Park at 950 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45202
The Annual In the Street Juneteenth Block Party
June 21, 2025, 4 pm-11pm
The Banks, East Freedom Way, Cincinnati, OH
Juneteenth Community Festival
June 14, 2025 4-8 pm
Clocktower Square, West Chester, OH 45069
Miss Juneteeth Film Screening
June 16, 2025 6:30- 7:30 pm
Woodward Theater at 1404 Main St., CincinnatI, OH 45202
Attendees are encouraged to wear African attire and arrive early to shop at an African vendor market.
Norwood Juneteenth Celebration
June 19, 2025 12 pm
Heritage Park at 4645 Montgomery Road, Norwood, OH 45212
Juneteenth: Unity in the Community
June 19, 2025, 4-7pm
Fraze Pavillion
695 Lincoln Park Blvd, Dayton, OH 45429
Free, family event w/ live music, food trucks, local vendors, crafts for children and an inspiring, informative keynote address.
Junteenth Jubilee
June 19, 2025 10 am- 6 pm
Underground Railroad Freedom Center at 50 East Freedom Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Juneteenth at the Urban League
June 21, 2025 10 am- 1 pm
Urban League Greater Southwestern Ohio at 3458 Reading Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45229
The YBG Juneteenth Block Party
June 21, 2025 12-4 pm
Ziegler Park at 1322 Sycamore Street Cincinnati, OH 45202
Juneteenth Jubilee
June 21, 2025 1-7pm
Historic Downtown Springboro
Juneteenth Tasting Event
June 22, 2025 10-4 pm
Findlay Market, CIncinnati, OH
City of Florence Juneteenth Freedom Day
June 19, 2025 12-5 pm
Florence Nature Park Event Center, Florence, KY
Flag Raising Ceremonies
Cincinnati City Hall Plaza, June 13, 11:00 am
To see more local events happening in June, go here.
