Throughout the month, Juneteenth celebrations will occur throughout Cleveland and its inner-ring suburbs. Some will focus on the history of the day, others will be opportunities to celebrate as a community, and others will offer guests an opportunity to create art that reflects that past and the current moment.
We’ve compiled a list of upcoming events throughout The Land that you can check out.
- Juneteenth at ThirdSpace Action Lab “Bet on Black” — Throughout the month of June, ThirdSpace Action Lab will host a variety of events focused on Juneteenth, including Brea Baker and Cebo Campbell (on June 20); the Black is Joy BBQ (on June 22); an intergenerational lunch (on June 27); and BLK Pride on 105 (on June 28). Additional events may be added throughout the month.
- Juneteenth Beaded Bracelets — On June 18, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the Mount Pleasant branch of Cleveland Public Library, guests can make their own bracelets to celebrate Juneteenth.
- Soldiers and Sailors Monument’s Juneteenth Celebration — From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Cuyahoga County Sailors and Soldiers Monument will host a family-friendly Juneteenth celebration. The event will include a reading of General Order No. 3, a dialogue around its meaning and importance; plus, coloring stations, story time with books from Cleveland Public Library, coloring stations, snacks and monument tours.
- Juneteenth Celebration at Hale Farm: Genius of Freedom — On June 19 and June 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., guests can experience a diverse array of activities celebrating Juneteenth at Hale Farm. Activities include a Sojourner Truth reenactor reciting the “Ain’t I a woman?” speech, first delivered in Akron in 1851. On June 20th, at 11 a.m. there will be a special screening of “Camp Delaware,” a film that tells the story of a Civil War-era training camp in Delaware, Ohio, where African American soldiers prepared to fight for the Union.
- Juneteenth: 5K Freedom Walk — Starting at 1 p.m. on June 19, attendees can come together at Cleveland Central Catholic High School to honor the end of slavery in the United States.
- Beachwood Juneteenth Celebration — On June 19, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Beachwood Family Aquatic Center, the city will celebrate Juneteenth with family activities, a movie truck, DJs, vendors, food trucks and more. The event is open to all.
- MX. Juneteenth at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — On June 21, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will be a Queer and Black Liberation Celebration at the Rock Hall. The event will include Black queer feminist performances, small businesses and artists, and community care.
- Cleveland Indie Author Expo — On June 21, from noon to 4 p.m., the inaugural Cleveland Indie Author Expo will be held in Valley View. The event will specifically highlight Black authors in honor of Juneteenth.
- What is Juneteenth? — On June 21, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at the Memorial Nottingham branch of Cleveland Public Library, guests can explore the meaning and history of Juneteenth while making keepsake buttons. Age-appropriate activities will be held for teens and tweens.
Juneteenth commemorates the freeing of the last slaves in the Confederacy — an event that occurred when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, according to the National Museum of African American History & Culture.
If you know of additional upcoming Juneteenth events in Cleveland, contact The Land’s Executive Director Chris Mosby.
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