Things to do for Juneteenth 2022 in Cincinnati

On Sunday, June 19, Americans will gather to celebrate Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S.

More than 150 years ago in 1865, Union soldiers led by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas. The troops brought the news that the American Civil War had ended and enslaved people were now free.

What's Juneteenth?  Everything to know about holiday celebrating end of slavery in the US

Juneteenth has grown in the years since. The holiday is now celebrated across the country with backyard barbeques, parades, festivals and more.

”Juneteenth today, celebrates African American freedom and achievement, while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures,” according to the holiday’s website.

Cincinnati news: Cincinnati Public Schools recognizes Juneteenth as official holiday

Hoping to celebrate the holiday this year in Cincinnati? We've got you covered. Here's a roundup of Juneteenth events across the Queen City:

JUNE 13

Juneteenth flag raising ceremonies

The nonprofit organization Juneteenth Cincinnati is working in collaboration with the Cincinnati Art Museum, Hamilton County Courthouse and Cincinnati City Hall to organize flag raising ceremonies across the Queen City in honor of the holiday.

The flag ceremonies will be held June 13-17.

Urban Consulate Juneteenth nanofestival

Urban Consulate will host a nanofestival celebrating the power of Black joy, liberation and expression at the Mercantile Library June 13.

The evening will feature:

• A conversation with Nikki Giovanni – a poet, writer, educator, activist and voice of the Black Arts Movement – moderated by Naimah Bilal.

• Film Screening and Dialogue with Gee Horton and Shay Nartker.

• Spoken Word by Cincinnati Poet Laureate, Yalie Saweda Kamara.

• Music by DJ Arie.

6:30 p.m., 414 Walnut St., 11th story, Downtown.

JUNE 15

Black Family Picnic and Movie Night

Join Queens Village and Culture + Collabs for a special Juneteenth family picnic and movie night on June 15. The picnic will feature food truck vendors and will be followed by an outdoor showing of "Cooklyn."

6-10 p.m., Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine.

JUNE 17

Juneteenth Kickoff Party

Findlay Market will kick off three days of Juneteenth celebrations on June 17 with a party at Jane’s, the market's outdoor bar. The event will feature live music and drinks.

6-9 p.m., 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine.

Juneteenth Jazz in the Park

Celebrate Juneteenth with a jazz music event in Victory Park on June 17. The free event features music by Sound the Alarm.

6-8 p.m., Victory Park, Montgomery Road at Mills St., Norwood.

Springboro Juneteenth Jubilee

The second annual Springboro Juneteenth Jubilee returns on June 17 and runs through June 18. Celebrate at seven unique venues across the city.

Highlights include live music, local vendors, food trucks, giveaways, Underground Railroad tours, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, community bicycle ride and an interactive exhibit.

springborojuneteenth.com, Springboro, Ohio.

Juneteenth Evening at the Museum

Commemorate Juneteenth with poetic performances of self-expression by local artists and poets on ideas of liberty, freedom, equality and justice at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

7-9 p.m., 50 E. Freedom Way, Downtown.

Heritage Hill Juneteenth celebration

Heritage Hill, a Cincinnati worker-owned apparel company that celebrates Black culture, will host a Juneteenth celebration June 17 with music, Black food vendors and special Juneteenth clothing.

10 a.m.-7 p.m., Heritage Hill warehouse, 431 Elliott Ave.

Juneteenth Block Party

The Juneteenth Block Party, presented by Paloozanoire in partnership with Fifth Third Bank and the Cincinnati Reds, returns to The Banks June 17.

Activities include a family fun zone featuring Reds mascots and carnival performers, an artist market, live music, DJs, food trucks, a fireworks show and more.

4-11 p.m., The Banks, East Freedom Way.

JUNE 18

Juneteenth Festival in Eden Park

Cincinnati's 35th Annual Juneteenth Festival will return to Eden Park on June 18. The free event features two stages of live music, supervised children's play area, shopping, art, history reenactments, health screenings, food and plenty of family fun.

12-9 p.m., 950 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams.

Juneteenth Parade in Middletown

Middletown's first Juneteenth Parade on June 18 will travel through downtown toward Verity Parkway and ends at Lafayette Ave. A festival will follow at Douglass Park with no-cost carnival rides for kids, live entertainment, vendors, food trucks, fireworks and family fun.

9-11:30 a.m., Main St., Middletown.

Second annual Juneteenth Craft Festival

Esoteric Brewing and Cincinnati Music Accelerator are partnering for the annual Juneteenth Craft Festival on June 18. The outdoor festival will feature live music, craft beer, art, food trucks, street vendors and a kids zone.

2-7 p.m., 918 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills.

Young Black Genius Juneteenth Block Party

The free block party will celebrate Juneteenth on June 18 in Ziegler Park with food trucks, vendors, live performances and music, speakers, live demonstrations and games. The Cincinnati Young Entrepreneurs Market will offer jobs, sports and leadership opportunities as well.

2-6 p.m., Ziegler Park, 1322 Sycamore St., Pendleton.

Free museum admission

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center hosts an evening of spoken word performances, poetry and cocktails for ages 21-up from 7-9 p.m. Artists scheduled to perform include Siri Imani, JeRod Lindsey and others. Admission is free and includes two free drink tickets and light bites, but advance registration is required.

50 Freedom Way, Downtown; freedomcenter.org.

Flag Raising & Resolution

Norwood will host a free flag raising ceremony featuring speakers and a choir performance on June 18.

10 a.m., Norwood City Hall, 4645 Montgomery Road.

Juneteenth Panel Discussion

Findlay Market and Black is Excellence partnered for a free ticketed panel discussion on June 18 at the Columns led by Kai Stoudemire-Williams, the founder of Black is Excellence. The panel will feature community leaders and business owners to discuss the history and importance of the holiday. Live jazz music by the Ron Jones Quintet will follow at Jane’s in Finday Market.

11 a.m.-noon, 109 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine.

157th Juneteenth Independence Day

Celebrate the holiday along with the Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission and St. Elizabeth Heathcare. Full day of activities includes free health screenings (breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, diabetes and blood pressure), free food from Dada Smokes, Kona Ice and more. Free and open to the public. Preregistration required for health screenings. Email tracy.stokes@stelizabeth.com.

11 a.m.-4 p.m., Lincoln Grant Scholar House, 834 Greenup St., Covington

Juneteenth Pool Party

Make a splash at Norwood Waterworks on June 18 with music from DJ Stank.

5-8 p.m., 2701 Harris Ave., Norwood.

Paint & Sip, Juneteenth Edition

Enjoy a guided painting project with a Juneteenth-inspired soundtrack. Includes wine (ages 21-up) and refreshments. Register for $40 at paintwithcolor.com

1-3 p.m., Norwood Recreation Center, 2039 Sherman Ave.

Juneteenth Block Party

Celebrate with family and friends at Ziegler Park. Free.

2-6 p.m., Ziegler Park, 1322 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine. 

Juneteenth Celebration in Covington, Kentucky

The Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission is partnering with St. Elizabeth Healthcare to celebrate Juneteenth with live music, tournaments, free health screenings, performers and vendors. Free food will be available from Dada Smokes and Kona Ice.

11 a.m.-4 p.m., Lincoln Grant Scholar House, 834 Greenup St., Covington.

MLK Family Fun Days

Join Cincinnati Parks and the Cincinnati Parks Foundation for MLK Family Fun Days, a celebration of Juneteenth. The event features inflatables, yard games, face painters, balloon artists, live music by the Positive Vibe Band, food trucks and more.

2-6 p.m., Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 3740 Reading Road.

Civic Garden Family Fun Day

The Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati hosts its first Family Fun Day at Hauck Botanic Gardens. The day will include music and activities for all ages as well as food available for purchase. The Cincinnati Museum Center, CSO, Cincinnati Nature Center, and other local organizations will be on site to provide education and entertainment.

Enjoy garden tours and a scavenger hunt, live music, family yoga with Hue Yoga, a free succulent houseplant from White Oak Garden Center and more.

11 a.m.-3 p.m., Hauck Botanic Gardens, 271 Reading Road, Avondale.

JUNE 19

Juneteenth Tasting Event

Findlay Market will host a ticketed tasting event featuring Black-owned businesses on June 19. Tickets are redeemable for small bites and 100% of ticket proceeds go back to participating businesses.

10 a.m.-4 p.m., Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine.

Bad Girl Brunch

Bad Girl Brunch – a networking event focused on supporting women business owners, creatives, models, artists and stylists – returns to celebrate Juneteenth at the Porch. Support local vendors at the event with pop-up shops and food trucks.

2-6 p.m., The Porch at Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine.

June Fest: A Father's Day Concert

The June Fest Father’s Day Concert returns to Seasongood Pavilion in Eden Park on June 19. The concert presents a variety of music and dancing.

2-6 p.m., Seasongood Pavilion, 950 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams.

Free museum admission on Juneteenth

Receive free admission to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center on June 19 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

The museum has a variety of events planned, including:

• Artist Brent Billingsley will lead a chalk community art project outside from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• A variety of activities and information stations inside will include a mini lecture on the history and legacy of Juneteenth at 12:30 p.m., dramatic readings and story time at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

• A performance by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s MAC Music Innovator Program featuring the Mark Lomax Quartet at 2 p.m.

50 Freedom Way, Downtown; freedomcenter.org.

Free Great Parks admission on Juneteenth

Great Parks of Hamilton County will be open to guests on Juneteenth, Sunday, June 19, and Motor Vehicle Permits will not be required to enter the parks. The $6 per person admission fee to the Highfield Discovery Garden will also be waived for the day.

Guests will be able to take advantage of picnic areas, enjoy the many shared use trails, rent a paddleboat and many other activities available at Great Parks, without purchasing a Motor Vehicle Permit for the day. The Highfield Discovery Garden will also welcome visitors of any age to see its engaging 25-foot Discovery Tree and explore the seven smaller themed gardens nearby without paying an entry fee.

JUNE 20

Juneteenth Parade, Downtown

The Juneteenth Parade in downtown Cincinnati – featuring bands, clowns, dignitaries as well as step and drill teams – will take place on June 20.

juneteenthcincinnati.org, Downtown.

Juneteenth at Rhinegeist

Rhinegeist Brewery will hold a Juneteenth commemoration June 20 at its taproom in Cincinnati. Christopher Miller, the Director of Education from the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, will discuss the history and significance of the holiday.

4-6 p.m., 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine.

Did we miss any events? Email kmbrown@gannett.com and we'll get it added to the list!

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Juneteenth 2022 celebrations, events in Cincinnati, Ohio