Juneteenth; a holiday celebrated on 19 June to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the US. The holiday was first celebrated in Texas, where on that date in 1865, in the aftermath of the Civil War, slaves were declared free under the terms of the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation.
A full day of family-friendly programming, including live music, pop-up shops, food trucks, entertainment and more, is planned for residents and visitors to safely come together and experience in Downtown Cleveland
DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND – This year, residents and visitors are invited to come together and celebrate Juneteenth at Cleveland’s first annual Freedom Fest. Presented in collaboration by Karamu House, Downtown Cleveland Alliance (DCA) and Ingenuity Cleveland, the free community-driven, family-friendly destination event is set to take place on Saturday, June 19, 2021 in the heart of Downtown Cleveland.
Freedom Fest will feature live music and entertainment from Karamu House and other talented performers, interactive art demonstrations, and a pop-up vendor village to spotlight Black businesses and entrepreneurs. Festivities will also include an Elders Corner, complete with family-friendly activities such as board games and children’s books, food trucks, beverage concessions and more!
The celebration continues into the evening with main stage entertainment. To top off the event, a soon-to-be-announced marquee performance will bring everyone together to commemorate the ending of slavery on June 19, 1865 - the day when all African Americans became free.
WHAT: Cleveland’s first annual Freedom Fest, a Juneteenth celebration
WHEN: Saturday, June 19; a complete schedule of programming to be announced soon
WHERE: Downtown Cleveland; to be announced
WHO: Cleveland residents and visitors; presented by Karamu House, Downtown Cleveland Alliance, and Ingenuity Cleveland, community partners and more.
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Additional event details will be announced soon via juneteenthcle.com.
For anyone interested to participate in the vendor village, please visit juneteenthcle.com/vendor-sign-up.
Community partners who are interested to take part in Cleveland’s first annual Juneteenth Freedom Fest may visit juneteenthcle.com/community-partner-sign-up.
Media inquiries: Lora Brand | lbrand@wearefalls.com | 216-472-4029.
All attendees are required to follow local health department and CDC guidelines throughout the duration of the event.
About Downtown Cleveland Alliance (DCA)
Downtown Cleveland Alliance’s mission is to make Downtown Cleveland the region’s most dynamic place to live, work, play and visit. Our vision is to create a vibrant, diverse, and equitable city center by attracting businesses, residents, and talent; enhancing the pedestrian experience; and securing future investment into Downtown Cleveland through strategic initiatives and advocacy efforts.
About Karamu House
Founded in 1915, Karamu House is a place of joyful gathering (the meaning of ‘Karamu’ in Swahili) where people from different races, religions, and economic backgrounds come together through the arts. Recognized as the oldest, producing African American theatre in the nation, Karamu House is continually cited as one of Cleveland’s top four treasures – and features in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture and listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
About Ingenuity Cleveland
Ingenuity Cleveland ignites the creative spark among artists, entrepreneurs and innovators of all types, through joy and collaboration, in service to social progress. Through boundary-pushing events and year-round Ingenuity Labs programming, we inspire audiences, uplift urban places, nurture makers and doers, and invite Northeast Ohio to fire up its imagination!