Iowa City Juneteenth Celebration

A Juneteenth concert and celebration for the entire county will take place in Downtown Iowa City on Friday June 14 2024 so mark your calendars for an evening of fun for everyone. All events listed will take place in the Downtown Ped Mall.

Friday night's event will feature a wide assortment of attractions for all ages:

• 4 p.m. - Johnson County Resource Fair and Vendors

• 5 p.m. - Free food by Royceann's Soul Food while supplies last

• 5 p.m. - Basketball balloon twisting face painting and more.

• 5:30 p.m. - Dream City Performing Arts Academy

• 5:50 p.m. - Spoken Word Performance

• 6:30 p.m. - Blake Shaw and Alyx Rush musical performance presented by Summer of the Arts

• 7:00 p.m. - Fashion Show presented by Wright House of Fashion sponsored by GreenState Credit Union

• 8 p.m. - Shining Star Band: A Tribute to Earth Wind & Fire

The Juneteenth Celebration will be an evening of family-friendly entertainment with various attractions such as the Iowa City Public Library's Bookmobile and The Iowa Children's Museum. Additionally vendor booths will offer arts crafts and merchandise while informational booths will showcase local nonprofits and service agencies. Feel free to bring a lawn chair or blanket to relax or dance the night away with help from our musical entertainers.

Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19 1865 two-and-a-half years after the Emancipation Proclamation Union soldiers sailed into Galveston Texas and read aloud the order freeing a quarter of a million slaves who were residing in the state.

Juneteenth events will be held throughout Johnson County around the holiday. Visit icjuneteenth.com to see the many ways you can celebrate!  

Host or Publisher Iowa City