Juneteenth Ohio Festival

One Hundred and fifty – nine years ago, our African American ancestors in Galveston Texas celebrated the first Juneteenth festival in the nation. General Gordon Granger read official order #3 to the African American captives of Galveston Texas June 19, 1865. Two and a half years earlier President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation January 1, 1863 freeing all African American captives in the rebellious south. This is the event our ancestors recognize as African American Independence Day. The first act of freedom African Americans cherished as the opportunity to reunite with family members and to be self-determined as a people.

The first celebration of Juneteenth included soul food cook offs, drinking ice cold red pop, singing spiritual hymns, performing re-enactments, and stage plays that shares tales of bravery, and courage that included, The Buffalo Soldiers, Harriet Tubman, John Brown, Denmark Vesey, and many other heroes, and sheroes, of the time. Today Juneteenth is celebrated in over 200 cities nationwide. Juneteenth Ohio has indeed evolved into the 3rd largest celebration in the country, this accomplishment in itself speaks greatness to the support we receive from the local and statewide community.

This momentous act is the reason why the Juneteenth Ohio festival continues to be a stable and meaningful celebratory foundation in the lives of African Americans, Latinos and Native Americans in the state of Ohio. Throughout our 26 years of celebration, Juneteenth Ohio emerged as the enjoyable family weekend of cultural discovery, filled with a variety of events promoting cultural unity, enrichment, and ethnic diversity, “key elements that improves the relationships and quality of life among all residents throughout Ohio”.
The Juneteenth Ohio Festival will take place June 17th & 18th 2023