Juneteenth is a day celebrated with family picnics, musical performances, speeches, religious services and prayer, dancing and educational events.
Juneteenth is the oldest internationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, according to Juneteenth.com. It was on June 19, 1865, that word the Civil War had ended and slavery had been abolished reached Galveston, Texas — a full two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
The following year, the anniversary was celebrated in Texas. In 1980, Juneteenth was made a Texas state holiday. Juneteenth was made a federal holiday in 2021.
There are many Juneteenth celebrations in the area. Here are some of them.
Idea Box: Juneteenth Display: to June 15 at Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake St., Oak Park. Free. 708-383-8200; oakpark.librarycalendar.com/event/idea-box-juneteenth-display-74788.
Oak Lawn Juneteenth Celebration: 12-7 p.m. June 9 at Oak Lawn Pavilion, 9401 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Lawn. Free. facebook.com/events; search Oak Lawn Juneteenth Celebration.
Juneteenth 2024 Family BBQ and Keynote Address: 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. June 13 at Dominican University, 7900 W. Division St., River Forest. Free. 708-366-2490; dom.edu/arts-minds/university-events/juneteenth-2024.
Grayslake Heritage Center Juneteenth Pop Up Exhibit: 12-4 p.m. June 14 and 15, 5-7 p.m. June 17, and 12-7 p.m. June 19 at the Grayslake Heritage Center and Museum, 164 Hawley St., Grayslake. Free. 847-543-1745; grayslakevillagecenter.com/event-calendar/juneteenth-pop-up-exhibit.
Juneteenth Lake County: 5-10 p.m. June 14, 12-11 p.m. June 15 and 12-9 p.m. June 16 at Foss Park, 1901 Foss Park Ave., North Chicago. Tickets for June 15 or 16: $37.20. 847-440-2021; juneteenthlakecounty.com.
Two Brothers’ Juneteenth Reggae Bash: 8 p.m.-1 a.m. June 14 at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, Aurora. $10. 630-264-2739; twobrothersbrewing.com.
Juneteenth Journeys depart from the Haines House in Bowen Park as part of Waukegan’s celebration. The tour visits important African American sites around Waukegan and the county andconcludes at the African American Museum at the England Manor in Waukegan. (Waukegan Park District)
“1619: The Journey of a People”: June 15-30 by Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre at Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St., Evanston. $32. 847-866-5914; cityofevanston.org/about-evanston/arts-and-culture/theatre/fleetwood-jourdain-theatre#ad-image-2.
Juneteenth Journey Bus Rides: 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. June 15 at Zion Leisure Center, 2400 Dowie Memorial Drive, Zion; and at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. June 19 and 22 at Haines House Bowen Park, 1917 N. Sheridan Road, Waukegan. $10. 224-409-3421; theenglandmanor.com.
South Holland Juneteenth Celebration: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. June 15 at Sand Ridge Nature Center, 15891 Paxton Ave., South Holland. Free. 708-868-0606; fpdcc.com/event/juneteenth-celebration.
Evanston’s 5th Annual Juneteenth Parade: 10:30 a.m. June 15 starting at Robert Crown Community Center, 1801 Main St., Evanston. Free. 847-448-4311; kemonehendricks.com/juneteenth-celebrations.
Homewood-Flossmoor Juneteenth Festival: 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. June 15 at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, 999 Kedzie Ave. Free. 708-798-2300; hfjuneteenthfestival.com.
Oak Park Juneteenth Community Cookout: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. June 15 at Village Hall, 123 Madison St., Oak Park. Free. 708-358-5700; oak-park.us/events/juneteenth-community-cookout.
Juneteenth Celebration emcee Kim Woods applauds as Isaiah Booker speaks in 2023 at Rotary Hill in Naperville. (Steve Johnston/Naperville Sun)
Evanston Soulful Juneteenth Celebration: 12-4 p.m. June 15 at Ingraham Park, Leonard Place and Asbury Ave., Evanston. Free. 847-448-4311; cityofevanston.org/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/25053/250.
Juneteenth Celebration by Naperville Neighbors United: 12-3 p.m. June 15 at Rotary Hill, 440 Aurora Ave., Naperville. Free. napervilleneighborsunited.org/juneteenth-1.
Skokie’s 4th Annual Juneteenth Celebration: 3-7 p.m. June 15 at Oakton Park, 4701 Oakton St., Skokie. Free. skokieunited.com.
Rhythm and Soul Fest — A Juneteenth Celebration: 3-9 p.m. June 15 at Washington Park, 1615 E. 142 St., East Chicago. Indiana. Free. 219-391-8300; eastchicago.com/398/Special-Events.
Richton Park Juneteenth Festival: 3-8 p.m. June 15 at Glaeser Park, 22022 Belmont Road, Richton Park. Free. 708-481-8950; facebook.com/RichtonPark.
Juneteenth River Forest Flag Raising Ceremony: 11 a.m.-noon June 17 at River Forest Public Library, 735 Lathrop Ave., River Forest. Free. 708-366-5205; riverforestlibrary.librarymarket.com/event/juneteenth-river-forest-flag-raising-ceremony-20457.
“Emancipation to Inauguration: Chicago’s Black Experience”: 1-2 p.m. June 17 at Deerfield Public Library, 920 Waukegan Road, Deerfield. 847-945-3311; deerfield.libnet.info/event/10390177.
Deerfield Juneteenth for Kids: 1-2 p.m. June 17 at Deerfield Public Library. 920 Waukegan Rdoa, Deerfield. 847-945-3311; deerfield.libnet.info/event/10779512.
“Emancipation to Inauguration: Chicago’s Black Experience”: 1-2 p.m. June 17 at Highland Park Public Library, 494 Laurel Ave., Highland Park. Free. 847-432-0216; hplibrary.org/event/10921236.
Grayslake: Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom Walk: 5-7 p.m. June 17 at the Grayslake Area Public Library, 100 Library Lane, Grayslake. Free. 847-223-8515; grayslakevillagecenter.com/event-calendar/juneteenth-celebration-of-freedom-walk.
“Blackmas Carol”: 12 and 5:30 p.m. June 18 at Indiana University Northwest’s Bergland Auditorium, 3400 Broadway, Gary, Indiana. Free. 219-980-6596; events.iu.edu.
Juneteenth: Commemorating the End of Slavery in America: 7-8 p.m. June 18 at Virtual by Winnetka-Northfield Public Library, 768 Oak St., Winnetka. Free. 847-446-7220; wnpld.org/event/juneteenth-commemorating-end-slavery-america-10457.
Juneteenth Film Screening: “Buffalo Soldiers Fighting on Two Fronts”: 1-2:30 p.m. June 18 at Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake St., Oak Park. Free. 708-383-8200; oakpark.librarycalendar.com/event/hold-buffalo-soldiers-fighting-two-fronts-74740.
Mr. Black Aurora, Peter Eta, and Miss Black Aurora, Charity Cocroft, raise the Juneteenth flag in 2023 in One Aurora Plaza in downtown Aurora. (Steve Lord/The Beacon-News)
Juneteenth Youth Summit: A Different World: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. June 19 at North Island Center, 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. Free. 630-256-4636; aurora-il.org, search for Juneteenth 2024.
Joliet Juneteenth Groundbreaking: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. June 19, there will be a groundbreaking ceremony and celebration at the the African Descendants Military and Historical Museum at 575 E. Jackson St. Joliet. 773-968-9072; historyonwheels.org.
Lockport Juneteenth: 4-7 p.m. June 19 at A.F. Hill Park, 2158 Hawthorne Place, Lockport. Free. 815-838-1183; lockportpark.org.
Hazel Crest Juneteenth Celebration: 5 p.m. June 19 at Vernard L. Alsberry, Jr. Municipal Center, 3601 W. 183rd St., Hazel Crest. Free. 708-335-9600; facebook.com; search Hazel Crest Juneteenth.
History on Wheels Juneteenth Celebration: 5-8 p.m. June 19 at the Joliet Historical Museum, 204 Ottawa St., Joliet. $40. 773-968-9072; historyonwheels.org.
On-Site Juneteenth Commemoration: “A Legacy of Hope and Allyship”: 6:30 p.m. June 19 at Illinois Holocaust Museum, 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie. Free. 847-967-4800; ilholocaustmuseum.org.
Juneteenth Summer Solstice Celebration at TheNate: 5-8 p.m. June 20 at the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park, Governors State University, 1 University Parkway, University Park. Free. 708-534-4021; govst.edu/NMSP-events.
Waukegan Juneteenth Celebration: 2-6 p.m. June 22 at the African American Museum at the England Manor, 503 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $10. 224-409-3421; theenglandmanor.com/juneteenth.
Juneteenth Commemoration: 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. June 23 at First United Methodist Church of Elmhurst, 232 S. York St., Elmhurst. Free. 630-834-2440; facebook.com/photo/?fbid=768429005415332&set=pb.100067447189859.-2207520000.
Black Chicago Renaissance: 7-8:30 p.m. June 26 at Thomas Ford Memorial Library, 800 Chestnut St., Western Springs. Free. 708-246-0520; fordlibrary.librarymarket.com/event/black-chicago-renaissance-24564.
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Beacon-News. Myrna Petlicki contributed to this story.
