Find Juneteenth events happening in Illinois and Iowa between June 15 and 21. This page is updated continuously; if you don’t see the event in your area, we’ll strive to get it up at least three days before it happens.
The Juneteenth holiday honors June 19, 1865, when more than 200,000 People of Color held as slaves in Texas past the Emancipation Proclamation regained their freedom.
Week of Jun 15th
Jun 15 (5 events)
11:00 am • Freedom Celebration: Prayer and Praise • Dubuque
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Jun 15
Gather with several Dubuque area congregations to "celebrate in song and word."
11:00 am • Juneteenth Outdoor Revival • Springfield–
Jun 15
An open-sky service, community song, and spoken word is how Juneteenth Inc. will honor the day. "Come together in unity, remembrance, and celebration of African American resilience and culture."12:00 pm • 2nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration • Oak Lawn–
Jun 15
It's a Sunday Funday for Juneteenth, featuring music, food, 75 vendors and kids' fun including face-painting and a gaming truck.12:00 pm • Juneteenth and Father's Day Family Picnic • Iowa City–
Jun 15
Basketball, a potluck, and games.
2:00 pm • Juneteenth Choir • Quincy–
Jun 15
Professor, spiritual leader and composser Anita M. Watkins-Stevens of St. Louis, will direct the “Voices of Juneteenth Choir” in this special performance.
Jun 16 (1 event)
5:00 pm • Living Peace 365 Juneteenth Celebration • Clinton–
Jun 16
It's time to celebrate community and culture, through live music, community booths, kids' games and more. Hosted by Living Peace 365, a coalition of nonprofits and government agencies aiming to promote peace.
Jun 17 (1 event)
6:30 pm • Juneteenth Feature Film: "The Negro Artist" • Washington–
Jun 17
Caleb "The Negro Artist" Rainey, Jr., a nationally-touring spoken word artist from Iowa City, is the subject of this documentary hosted by Washington for Justice. "His work challenges us to confront uncomfortable truths and inspires us to envision a more equitable future."
Jun 19 (7 events)
11:00 am • Juneteenth Parade and Block Party • Flossmoor–
Jun 19
You Matter 2 hosts this celebration that kicks off with a parade and includes a block party filled with fun and music.
12:00 pm • Juneteenth Ride • Cedar Rapids–
Jun 19
This 50-mile ride wby the Wednesday Night Bike Club will take you to five stops around Cedar Rapids.5:00 pm • Iowa Juneteenth Jubilee • Des Moines–
Jun 19
Honor scholarship winners, learn about history, hear some music by Bethany Elle, and enjoy light refreshments in this evening hosted by Iowa Juneteenth. Tickets are $35; get yours here.6:00 pm • Juneteenth Celebration • Bloomingdale–
Jun 19
Illinois State Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock hosts this second annual event featuring DuPage County NAACP President & County Board Member Michael Childress, 18th Judicial Court Judge Chantelle Porter, and Youth Outlook Treasurer Ken Mejia-Beal. Also featuring Black-owned vendors and food trucks.
6:00 pm • Juneteenth Community Dinner and Service of Repentance • Cedar Falls–
Jun 19
Join the Cedar Valley Interfaith Council for dinner and a focus on "things we have left undone/unsaid. This will be a time for those most culpable of perpetuating injustice and racist systems (namely White Christians) to commit to repentance."7:30 pm • Juneteenth Celebration Featuring Sheryl Youngblood • Chicago–
Jun 19
Sheryl Youngblood, a "powerhouse" vocalist and 2015 Chicago Blues Hall of Fame inductee, takes the stage to honor Juneteenth with her bluesy sound.
8:00 pm • R&B Music Experience: Juneteenth Music Fest • Chicago–
Jun 19
This concert features Ashanti, Lil Kim, Mýa, Lloyd and Donell Jones. Tickets are $65.50; get yours here.Jun 20 (1 event)
6:30 pm • Back To Our Roots w/Leradee and the Positives • Iowa City–
Jun 20
Check out a fashion show by Andre Wright, then enjoy the soothing rootz music of Leradee and the Positives. Presented by Summer of the Arts.
Iowa City Pedestrian MallJun 21 (1 event)
12:00 pm • BN Juneteenth Celebration • Bloomington–
Jun 21
Celebrate. Educate. Motivate. That's the focus of this day of family fun, coordinated by the Bloomington-Normal Black History Project, that also features food, vendors and entertainment.
