Since 2021, when Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill to commemorate June 19, 1865, the date when the last enslaved Black people in the U.S. learned that they were free, the annual Juneteenth holiday in Springfield has continued to grow. With each passing year, new participating organizations join the festivities. Activities during the weeklong celebration helps Juneteenth, Inc. achieve its goal to celebrate and highlight African American cultural contributions with live music events, art exhibitions, presentations and just a lot of fun stuff to do.
Ongoing
To kick off the celebration, the Illinois State Museum hosts the fifth installation of the annual NOIR art exhibition, “NOIR V: Resilience,” which will be displayed through Sept. 2. With their artwork, curated by Austin Wells and Elijah Miller, artists “celebrate and preserve Black culture, traditions and values, fostering a sense of pride and belonging.”
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will present “The Nature of Freedom: A literary commemoration of Juneteenth.” In this readers theater piece, the actors present the script without the usual theater accoutrements and special lighting. Using only scripts and vocal expression, the actors help the audience understand and follow the story. The 35-minute act will include quotations attributed to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Langston Hughes, Harriet Tubman, Dr. Maya Angelou, Robert Smalls, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Henry Bibb. The daily performances are at noon on June 12-13 and June 18-19 and are included with museum admission. An additional presentation at 6:30 p.m. on June 19 is free but requires an advance ticket.
From June 13-26, the ALPLM will display a rare copy of the document that played a key role in the historic day of freedom on June 19, 1865 – the Emancipation Proclamation. This copy is one of about two dozen that survive and was signed by both Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of State William Seward. The document can be viewed in the library from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and admission to view it is free.
Thursday, June 12
Southeast High School will host a “day of elegance and excellence” in presenting the Mr. & Miss Juneteenth Pageant at 6 p.m. in the auditorium. Participation in the pageant encourages “youth to express their values, talents and diverse backgrounds.”
Friday, June 13
The Illinois State Museum will host Juneteenth Celebration Family Day from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in partnership with Juneteenth, Inc. View the youth art exhibition “Unity Through Community” by Made Wright Inc.’s Unity Club, paint a community mural designed by the curator of “Noir V,” Austin Wells, engage with Illinois state agency partners and share in the spirit of unity and identity. This program is free to attend.
“Freeish: The resiliency of Black history beyond erasures” will be the topic of a lunch and learn panel discussion presented by Juneteenth, Inc. and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in partnership with UIS Center for Lincoln Studies and the Illinois State Museum. Dr. Brian Mitchell will moderate the discussion as panelists Dr. Loretta Meeks, Ken Page, Dr. Lesa Johnson and Frank McNeil talk about the enduring strength and adaptability of Black history while facing marginalization. ISM will host the event from 12-2 p.m. on June 13. Bring your own brown bag lunch, no reservations required.
Saturday, June 14
The Juneteenth Celebration at Comer Cox Park begins with the Unity Parade. The parade takes off from South Martin Luther Jr. Drive at 10 a.m. and heads north to Comer Cox Park where the festivities will be hitting their stride. Expect to find more than 20 vendors along with food trucks, face painting and balloon art, contests and raffles, and a car show. Join in the Juneteenth basketball tournament with divisions for those of elementary school age through adults. Be sure to stop by the Better Life Better Living 4 Kidz area for family-friendly activities and community resource information. The ALPLM will also host an activities tent. Some great sounds will be coming from the stage on Saturday as it welcomes top-notch performers Saint Boogie Brass Band and PJ Bill.
Sunday, June 15
The celebration at the park continues when the morning starts with the popular Fitness in the Park at 9 a.m. Following that, the Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church will lead a revival with community music performances and spoken word tributes. You can enjoy great live music throughout the day, including the sounds of the Springfield Municipal Band, the Central Worship Community Choir, Jerry Jones and the Fantastic Jones Singers, Dexter O’Neal and the Funkyard, as well as Kapital Sound.
On both days of the weekend celebration, you will find delicious food from local vendors and can explore a variety of organizations and Black-owned businesses and artisans offering unique goods and services.
Monday, June 16
One in a Million, an organization with a mission to “move our community towards spiritual, social, racial, political and economic equality,” will host a Stop the Violence discussion with a community panel at 6 p.m. at 700 S. Livingston St.
Tuesday, June 17
The University of Illinois Springfield Center for Lincoln Studies, in partnership with Juneteenth Inc. and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, will host Dan Duster, the great-grandson of American civil rights activist Ida B. Wells.
The event, titled “Leading WELLS: Lessons in Courage and Leadership from Ida B. Wells,” will highlight Wells’ 19th-century struggles and triumphs to inspire people to overcome obstacles and stand up against injustice in the workplace, schools and communities.
It takes place at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 17, at the ALPLM.
The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required and available at go.uis.edu/Juneteenth. Reservations made for the originally scheduled speaker, Nikole Hannah-Jones, will be honored.
Wednesday, June 18
The Outlet, 3306 S. Sixth St. Road, will host the Juneteenth Youth Day from 4-8 p.m. with outdoor games, basketball, bounce houses and even a nonviolence poetry contest for ages 7-18 with cash prizes. The event will also include free food and youth resources. The mission of The Outlet is to help young males ages 8-22 to develop “the capacity and skill sets to make responsible life decisions, acquire and maintain meaningful spiritual and ethical values, explore their gifts, talents, and recognize their dreams and aspirations.”
Thursday, June 19
Lincoln Land Community College will host the third annual Freedom Walk at 8:30 a.m. The self-guided walk around the Springfield campus includes tributes to the timeline of events leading up to Juneteenth’s Freedom Day. Participants are encouraged to wear Juneteenth colors of red, green, gold or black. Afterward, enjoy a light breakfast and pick up some Juneteenth swag.
The college will also present the documentary Juneteenth: 1865-2021 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. in A. Lincoln Commons.
The Salvation Army and Sangamon County will host the Juneteenth Youth Breakfast and Fine Arts Showcase at 10 a.m. at The Salvation Army, 1600 E. Clear Lake Ave. This dynamic morning event will begin with a community breakfast where guests will enjoy a meal with educators, community leaders and creatives. Highlights include live performances by youth artists including spoken word, dance and vocal music, a visual arts gallery showcasing original works by local young creators, inspirational speakers and recognition of outstanding youth who embody the spirit of Juneteenth. Tickets are available at juneteenthinc.org/upcomingevents.
This year’s Juneteenth holiday will wrap up with a performance at 6 p.m. on the Y Block by The Rumble during the Levitt Amp Springfield Music Series. The band with a New Orleans funk sound is fronted by Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. of the legendary Golden Eagles Indian tribe and boasts some of the next generation’s most prolific artists.
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This article appears in Juneteenth 2025.
This probably isn’t politically correct, and I don’t mean to offend anyone but, Juneteenth used to be a party in the park, a celebration like the 4th of July. The one holiday black people can just celebrate who they are, not as civil rights leaders. Not in the context of slavery, Juneteenth is about freedom from slavery… it’s the one day to take a break from fighting for inclusion. Slavery is not black history. Slavery is America’s history. Black history is black culture, the social practices…like the Sunday celebration and market in Congo square, its culinary traditions…soul food, the art of creativity. Hair, dance. Its music. Black history is culture, not the struggle.