It is Juneteenth week! The holiday recognizes the summer day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas and informed enslaved people that they were free. This took place two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on Jan. 1, 1863.
The holiday has been celebrated by Black people, particularly in the South, for decades. Since June 19 became a federal holiday in 2021, celebrations have grown in popularity across the country. In Chicago, Juneteenth became an official city holiday in 2022.
To say Chicago’s streets will be lit is an understatement. Cultural events around the city celebrating the abolition of slavery will be plentiful: varying from grown and sexy nightlife to family-friendly fun.
Whether you’re looking to celebrate out West, out South, or up North, The TRiiBE’s got you covered.
West Side/Near West Side/West Loop
1865 Fest
Date & Time: June 18 at 3:00 p.m.; June 19 from noon to 8:00 p.m.; June 20 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location: The Gold Dome at 100 N. Central Park Blvd, and Garfield Park at 22 S. Hamlin Blvd.
This three-day event includes a little something for everyone. On Wednesday, commemorate Juneteenth with the raising of the flag to honor Black soldiers at the Garfield Park Field House, a.k.a. The Gold Dome, at 100 N. Central Park. The other two days will feature live music, educational workshops and a Father’s Day grill off in Garfield Park.
Grand Opening of the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation
Date & Time: June 19 from noon to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Aspire Center in Austin at 5500 W. Madison St.
After shuttering in 2013, the Emmett Elementary school building is now the site of a workforce development center. The grand opening celebration will include a tour of the facility, which includes $15 million in renovations and other community-centered activities.
Juneteenth Celebration ft. The Magnificent Mile Orchestra
Date & Time: June 19 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location: Time Out Market in the West Loop at 916 W. Fulton Market
The Magnificent Mile Orchestra will give a performance to honor Juneteenth at the West Loop’s Time Out Market. The event is free.
Transcendance: A Black Trans Variety Show
Date & Time: June 19, 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Location: Dorothy, a lesbian bar in West Town at 2500 W. Chicago Ave.
This 21+ event will be a celebration of the Black trans experience featuring bands, burlesque and drag. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door.
Juneteenth Kickoff Party
Date & Time: June 19 from 6:00 p.m. to midnight
Location: Vertiport, a helicopter landing facility in Little Italy at 1339 S. Wood St.
Black Yacht Weekend offers a variety of events around the celebration of Black boaters and party goers who enjoy galavanting in the Playpen on Lake Michigan. The weekend kicks off with a Juneteenth Kickoff Party in Little Italy Vertiport that will feature DJ sets, curated foods and vibes. Tickets for the kickoff event are $35.
Inspired By: You Fest
Date & Time: June 22 from noon to 6:00 p.m.
Location: Douglass Park, 1401 S. Sacramento Dr.
In partnership with City Clerk Anna Valencia and Black-owned coffee shop Muse Coffee, Inspired By: You Fest is described as a celebration of collaboration, community and culture. Merchandise that will be sold in advance and during the festival is inspired by Chicago-based artist Natalie O. Decor. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for kids.
Juneteenth Disco Party
Date & Time: June 19: doors open at 8:00 p.m. and show starts at 9:00 p.m.
Location: Empty Bottle, an indie music venue and bar in Ukrainian Village at 1035 N. Western Ave.
Ric Wilson, a Chicago-based artist known for creating “party ready hip-hop” with a disco and house twist, will take over the Empty Bottle on Juneteenth. The 21+ disco party costs $20 (including taxes and fees) and promises a good time with dancing all night.
South Side/Southwest Side
From The Low End With Love: Juneteenth Celebration Vol. IV
Date & Time: June 18 from 6:00 pm. to 12:30 a.m.
Location: In Bronzeville on 47th Street and South Indiana Avenue
Considered one of the city’s “most anticipated grassroots Juneteenth celebrations,” From the Low End with Love is back for its fourth year featuring South Side vendors and live music from various DJs. This year’s event will raise funds for Live Free Illinois, which focuses on public safety and criminal justice reform. Early bird tickets have sold out; $20 tickets are still available.
Juneteenth Annual Community BBQ
Date & Time: June 19 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Location: At the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, 740 E. 56th Pl.
This event takes place on the lawn of the DuSable Museum. The community BBQ showcases local vendors and a family-friendly environment. The event falls during the museum’s “Black Power Era” month of study. The Museum will honor the spirit and legacy of Black Power during the festivities.
Juneteenth Day of Service
Date & Time: June 19 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Location: Hamilton Park, 513 W. 72nd St.
Youth-focused group My Block, My Hood, My City is celebrating Juneteenth with a day of service that includes delivering box fans and cases of water to local senior citizens. The event will end with food and family activities.
Juneteenth Day Party
Date & Time: June 19, starting at 11:30 a.m.
Location: Rate Field, 333 W. 35th St.
The White Sox are offering discounted tickets, including a patio pass and all-you-can-eat-and-drink from 11:30 a.m. until the start of the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at 1:10 p.m. as part of its Juneteenth package. The patio party will feature sounds from DJ Sean Mac. Ticket prices range from $70 to $150.
A ‘Lit’ Juneteenth Happy Hour
Date & Time: June 19 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Mesler, a restaurant and bar inside the Sophy Hotel in Hyde Park at 1401 E. 53rd St.
The Mesler will offer special cocktails featuring Black-owned brands such as Uncle Nearest and Beyoncé’s Sir Davis. Proceeds will benefit the Black Boy Literacy Campaign, which aims to make reading more fun for grade school-aged boys on the South and West sides.
2025 Juneteenth Festival
Date & Time: June 21 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Location: The lot in West Pullman at 821 W. 115th St.
Put on by the nonprofit Far South CDC, the festival takes place in the lot on 115th and Halsted and will feature live music, housing workshops and a trolley tour. The site is also the future home of the Morgan Park Common, a mixed-use development that aims to create more investment on the Far South Side.
North Side/Northwest Side
Juneteenth Freedom Market
Date & Time: June 17 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Location: The Salt Shed, an indoor/outdoor entertainment spot in West Town at 1357 N. Elston Ave.
This marks the fifth year of the Juneteenth Freedom Market, which will highlight over 70 Black-owned vendors, DJ sets from DJ Ca$h Era and Slot A. Attendees can get tatted during the event and enjoy other activations. The marketplace is free, but a $10 donation is suggested.
Juneteenth Floral Installations
Date & Time: June 19 at 10:00 a.m. through June 22
Location: Seward Park in Old Town, 375 W. Elm St.
This Juneteenth public floral installation has happened annually since 2019. Created by popular Black-owned florist Planks and Pistils, this year’s installation is centered on the theme “A Higher Law,” about “how the care and protection of Black life is fueled by a higher law.” The organization explained the theme is inspired by a quote from former U.S. Secretary of State (under President Abraham Lincoln) William Seward, whom the park is named after: “There is a higher law than the Constitution.”
Downtown
Black Yacht Day
Date & Time: June 21 and June 22, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Location: Lake Michigan Playpen, that area of the lake just north of Navy Pier and south of Oak Street Beach.
Lake Michigan will be the site of one the largest Black boater meetups in the country. Black Yacht Weekend, particularly the yacht days in Lake Michigan’s Playpen, has become a coveted event in Chicago, attracting locals and tourists from near and far to this nonstop party on the water.
African Fashion Show
Date & Time: June 19 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Location: Field Museum, 1400 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive
The Field Museum is hosting local designers for a fashion show inspired by its Africa Fashion exhibition. The show will feature a live DJ, giveaways in collaboration with Black Fashion Week USA and Chicago-based designer Akese Stylelines. The show is included with general admission to the museum, which is $10 for an adult.
Juneteenth Rhythm & Blues Cafe
Date & Time: June 19 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Location: Anita Dee Yacht Charters, 200 North Breakwater Access
DJ Sundance, self-proclaimed “Chicago’s tightest female DJ,” is hosting a cruise that will feature soulful jams and a cash bar. Tickets are $90.
Juneteenth-From Captivity to Freedom
Date & Time: June 19 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Location: Downtown Islamic Center, 231 S. State St.
The Downtown Islamic Center is screening a film about the legacy of Black Muslim slaves and their fight for freedom. This is an all-ages event and tickets are $7.18.
