People across the city will celebrate Juneteenth this Friday with car caravans, rallies and online parties.
Though yet to be recognized as a holiday locally and nationwide, Juneteenth is a holiday that celebrates the day in 1865 when troops arrived in Texas to free enslaved Americans — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
The holiday is always celebrated on June 19.
Here are this year’s celebrations in Chicago:
South Side
Chicago Peace And Equality Juneteenth Rally & Celebration 2020
Where: South Loop Green Space, 2400 S. State St.
When: 6 p.m. Friday
What: Roses4Austin and EqualityShouldBeNormal are hosting a rally and celebration. You can email chicagopeacemarch@gmail.com or go to the organizers’ Facebook event page for more information.
Juneteenth Celebration ReBuild Black Wall Street
Where: 35th Street and King Drive
When: 1-7 p.m. Friday
What: There will be a mobile parade with Black-owned business owners, HBCUs and community members. More information here.
Holiday March
Where: 5531 S. King Drive
When: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday
What: This is the organizers’ first annual Juneteenth Chicago March. more information here.
Roll N Peace Critical Mass Bike Tour/Juneteenth Celebration
Where: Englewood Sqaure, 63rd and Halsted streets
When: Registration at 4 p.m. Friday, tour at 8 p.m.
What: Participants will take a bicycle tour through Englewood. It will end with a celebration at the Chicago Firehouse Engine Company. Free bike rentals will be provided by Divvy.
UIC’s Bridging The Gap Unity In The Community Juneteenth Event
Where: The D Center, 6031 S. Halsted St.
When: 2 p.m. Friday
What: There will be food, music, giveaways and live entertainment. People are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings.
Juneteenth The Celebration
Where: Harold Washington Cultural Center, 4701 S. King Drive.
When: 1 p.m. Friday
What: There will be African dancing and drumming, food, live entertainment, workshops and giveaways.
Juneteenth Car Parade
Where: Meet in one of four locations: South Side (87th and Dan Ryan), East Side (75th and Stony Island), West Side (Hamlin & Madison) or North Side (North Ave. & Halsted)
When: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday
What: Participants should bring flags and families for a car parade that will go through the city, celebrating ancestors and a day of emancipation.
Social Change Juneteenth Giveaway
Where: DuSable Museum, 740 E. 56th Place
When: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday
What: Families can walk or drive up to get free food. The first 19 families will receive a one-year museum membership.
2nd Annual Juneteenth Family Festival
Where: Dan Ryan Woods, 8700 S. Western Ave.
When: noon-5 p.m. Saturday
What: There will be live performances, arts and crafts, artists, face painting, food vendors, DJs and games and activities. Admission is free.
Juneteenth 2020 Census and Free Lunch Giveaway
Where: South Central Community Services, 83rd Street and Ellis Ave.
When: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
What: Get a free lunch for completing the 2020 Census, compliments of SCCS and BarTucci Italian Foods. Available on a first come, first served basis. Guardians of The Angeles will also be distributing free masks and gloves.
The People’s Free Food Program – Original Soul Food Vegetarian Edition
When: Friday, June 19th; noon – 4 p.m.
Where: 203 E. 75th Street
What: The restaurant will be giving away hot vegan meals, groceries, produce (donated from Gary Come Youth Center’s farm), household essentials, and baby products.
Roseland Matters Juneteenth Celebration
When: June 19th; 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Where: 11040 S. Michigan Ave.
What: Organizers will be giving out a variety of foods, including fresh spring rolls, sandwiches, jerk chicken, and a variety of homemade sorbets. Along with these tasty treats, they will also have grocery giveaways, and will be handing out feminine hygiene packs for the ladies. COVID-19 restrictions will be enforced.
West Side
Black Culture Week Juneteenth Caravan
When: noon-7:30 p.m. Friday
What: The Juneteenth Caravan will start on the West Side and pass through historic neighborhoods and sites on its way to the South Side’s A. Phillip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum. The caravan ends with a recognition ceremony and spoken word concert.
Juneteenth Celebration
Where: Grace Memorial Baptist Church, 1457 S. Keeler Ave.
When: 2 p.m. Friday
What: There will be free food, music and giveaways.
Juneteenth Rally
Where: Austin Peoples Action Center, 5125 W. Chicago Ave.
When: noon-6 p.m. Friday
What: A rally will be held in honor of George Floyd. There will be food, live music and free coronavirus testing.
Juneteenth Celebration
Where: Firehouse Community Arts Center, 2111 S. Hamlin Ave.
When: 4-8 p.m. Friday
What: There will be free food and music.
North Side
DePaul University Students and Service Workers March and Rally
Where: Trebes Park, Northeast corner of Webster and Clifton
When: Friday, June 19; 3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
What: Students and service workers are joining together in the spirit of Juneteenth to commit to supporting each other as family, friends, and co-workers.
Gallery Café Juneteenth Celebration In Wicker Park
Where: Gallery Café, 1760 W. North Ave.
When: Friday, June 19; 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
What: Free coffee and $5 sandwiches; proceeds will benefit My Block My Hood My City
Juneteenth Caravan
What: The event is organized by the Northwest Side Coalition Against Racism and Hate. More details to come. Contact the organization here for more information.
Downtown
One Million Man March
Where: City Hall, 1224 S. Wabash Ave.
When: 11 a.m. Friday
What: There will be a march for equality, systemic reform and justice. To register, go here.
Juneteenth Restaurant & Bar Crawl
Where: Varies
When: 1-3 p.m. Friday
What: There are three routes. One starts at The Grail Cafe, 715 S. Dearborn Ave.; the second starts at Momentum Coffee, 2119 S. State St.; and the third starts at Harold’s Chicken No. 88, 1450 S. Michigan Ave. Participants will go to various restaurants and bars and will meet at the Teapot Brew Bakery, 1803 S. Wabash Ave.
Online
Rebuild Foundation’s Juneteenth Quarantine Concert
When: 5:30 p.m. Friday
What: The Rebuild Foundation and Edgewater-based Experimental Sound Studio is hosting a special Juneteenth edition of its virtual quarantine concert series. Performers will include YAW, Meagan McNeal and avery r. young. Proceeds will go toward the creation of the Tamir Rice Afrocentric Cultural Center. For more on the event, click here.
Old Town School of Folk Music’s Virtual Juneteenth Concert
When: 8 p.m. Friday
What: The concert will feature the Live the Spirit Residency and the Great Black Music Ensemble. Proceeds will be donated to the Chicago Torture Justice Center. The concert can be watched online.
Juneteenth Live Discussion With D-Composed
When: 6-7:30 p.m. Friday
What: Viewers can join John Dunson, Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Overture Council president, for a conversation with D-Composed, a Chicago-based chamber music experience that highlights musicians and composers within the African diaspora. The event will be on Zoom.
Liberatory Practices By Seed Lynn and Sadie Woods
When: noon-1:30 p.m. Friday
What: Artists Seed Lynn and Sadie Woods will explore diasporic emancipatory celebrations through photography and music. The program will end with a DJ set by Sadie Woods, aka Afrodjia, and the launch of a month-long, Virtual Juneteenth Marketplace supporting Black-owned, South Side businesses. The event will be broadcast on Facebook Live.
Black Census Day Juneteenth Celebration
When: 7-8:30 p.m. Friday
What: The celebration will feature music and information about the 2020 Census. It will be hosted by DJs Tone Kapone and Sean Mac. Viewers can watch on Instagram Live from either DJ’s account: @ToneKapone33 and @SeanMac.
Source: Blockclubchicago