Celebrate Juneteenth 2023

In only the second year as a national holiday, Juneteenth festivities have increased across the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota, with more than 30 events taking place over the next 10 days.

The MSR has compiled a list of just some of the activities to look forward to from music and dance to parades, festivals, block parties and cookouts. We invite readers to share their Juneteenth celebrations on our Facebook page.

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

JUNETEENTH COMMUNITY COOK-OUT

June 15 – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Hallie Q. Brown Community Center

270 North Kent St., St. Paul

Enjoy a free evening of food, music and community with Women’s Advocates! This celebration honors the Black/African American victim-survivors they support as well as the Black/ African American-led companies, artists, and other community partners who support and strengthen the community. Register at bit.ly/JuneteenthCommunityCook-Out.

CHANGE STARTS WITH COMMUNITY JUNETEENTH EVENT

June 16 – Noon to 6 p.m.

Shiloh Temple International Ministries

1201 West Broadway, Minneapolis

Featuring Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Safety Commissioner Dr. Cedric Alexander and Bishop Richard D. Howell Jr., this event includes youth basketball and games, prizes and free food, gun locks and Narcan. For more info, visit bit.ly/KnownMPLSJuneteenth.

LADIES OF SOUL: A JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

June 16 – 7:00 p.m.

The Dakota

1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis

Featuring Kathleen Johnson and friends, this live music production includes the music of Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Anita Baker, Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Natalie Cole, Gladys Knight, Teena Marie, and Sade. For more info, visit www.dakotacooks.com.

TRÉ DA MARC PRESENTS – JUNETEENTH JUBILEE: A BLACK BURLESQUE SHOW

June 17 – 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Centennial Park

6301 Shingle Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center

Join a family-friendly day filled with entertainment, food, vendors, art, lawn games, teen activities and more. Entertainment includes Ernest Bisong, Carolyne Naomi, Ashley DuBose, The Maxx Band, and others. Admission is free. For more info, visit bit.ly/JuneteenthBC.

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION: BLACK BODIES IN MOTION

JUNETEENTH – CELEBRATING FREEDOM DAY

June 17 – Noon to 6 p.m.

Bethune Park

1304 North 10th Ave., Minneapolis

This Minneapolis Parks and Recreation event features music and entertainment by Jamecia Bennett, Jamela Pettiford, Obi Original and BdotCroc. There will also be food, entertainment, vendors and family activities. For more info, visit bit.ly/MplsParksJuneteenth.

MILLION ARTIST MOVEMENT QUILTING PROJECT

June 17 – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Hennepin History Museum

2303 3rd Ave. South, Minneapolis

Million Artist Movement is hosting a quilting event on the Hennepin History Museum’s lawn. The public is encouraged to attend and make a square with what they want to say to the community. For more info, visit bit.ly/QuiltingProject.

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

June 17 – 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

North River Hills Park

19th Ave., Burnsville

This City of Burnsville event promises musical performances, lots of dancing, kids’ crafts and more. Cave Café and Samosa Sambusa food trucks will also be present. For more info, visit bit. ly/BurnsvilleJuneteenthCelebration.

2ND ANNUAL JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

The

June 16 – 7:00 p.m.

The Capri Theater

2027 West Broadway, Minneapolis

Just like gospel, jazz and blues, burlesque is Black! The Juneteenth Jubilee is described as an epic love letter and celebration of liberation and freedom for Black and Brown bodies and identities in burlesque. Featuring some of the industry’s most prolific artists from across the United States, the entire Twin Cities is welcome to witness Black performance artists taking up space at the historic Capri Theater. For more info, visit bit.ly/JuneteenthJubileeBurlesque.

KUMBAYAH THE JUNETEENTH STORY

June 16 – 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Breck School

123 Ottawa Ave. North, Golden Valley

Written by Rose McGee and produced in partnership with the Minnesota Humanities Center, “Kumbayah: The Juneteenth Story” teaches the history of Juneteenth and its significance in the continued struggle for racial justice and equity. Free but registration is required at bit.ly/SweetPotatoComfortKumbayah.

TEAM USA’S JUNETEENTH COOKOUT

June 17 – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

7070 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Center

Celebrate Juneteenth with Team USA Mortgage. Food and drinks are provided. Register at bit.ly/TeamUSAJuneteenth.

2023 JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

June 17 – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Ojibway Park

2695 Ojibway Dr., Woodbury

Join Woodbury for Justice and Equality serving Human Rights in celebrating community. Featuring speakers, live performances, music, food and activities for the whole family. For more info, visit woodbury4je.com.

JUNETEENTH FAMILY FESTIVAL

June 17 – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sanctuary Covenant Church

710 West Broadway Ave., Minneapolis

Enjoy a community health fair, Black business marketplace, food trucks, games, live music, poetry and storytelling. For more info, visit bit.ly/JuneteenthFamilyFest.

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION ROSEVILLE

June 17 – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Frank Rog Amphitheatre

2540 Lexington Ave. North, Roseville

A special Juneteenth edition of Roseville’s Live @ The Rog, in partnership with Do Good Roseville. There will be free food, speakers and entertainment. For more info, visit dogoodroseville.com/juneteenth-roseville-2023.

June 17 – 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Midtown Global Market

920 East Lake St., Minneapolis

Featuring performances by Jamela Pettiford, Brother Ghana and a Somali poet, this event includes Zumba, yoga, pilates, personal training and a family bike ride around South Minneapolis. For more info, visit midtownglobalmarket.org.

WEST SIDE JUNETEENTH

June 17 – Noon to 4 p.m.

Parque Castillo

149 Cesar Chavez St., St. Paul

The West Side Community Organization is celebrating freedom, community and history on the West Side. Featuring great food and special guests, including Dance With Purpose Dance Company, martial arts, DJs, and more. Free and open to the public. For more info, visit www.wsco.org/wsjuneteenth.

JUNETEENTH MINNESOTA – A FAMILY CELEBRATION

Black Health is Wealth • Change Your Diet! Sat. June 17th, 2023 • 1 - 7 pm

June 17 – 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

North Hennepin Community College

7411 85th Ave. North, Brooklyn Park

The City of Brooklyn Park’s Juneteenth Celebration will feature food, fun, and an immersive educational experience. Special guest Dr. Joy DeGruy will headline the event. For more info, visit bit.ly/BPJuneteenthCelebration.

JUNETEENTH FREEDOM DAY AT ST. PAUL DEAF CLUB

June 17 – Noon to 4 p.m.

Allianz Field

400 Snelling Avenue North, St. Paul

Juneteenth Minnesota is a free family celebration that everyone will enjoy. The event will include history and art exhibits, a kids’ fun zone, scholarship awards, a marketplace, live performances, wellness resources, and foods from across the African Diaspora. For more info, visit bit.ly/JuneteenthMN.

RICHFIELD JUNETEENTH

June 17 – 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Richfield Community Bandshell

636 East 66th St., Richfield

The event will kick off with a short Freedom Walk at 11:30 a.m., beginning at the “Honoring All Veterans” Memorial. The festivities begin at noon at the Richfield Community Bandshell. This will include food, performances by Frank Gardener and his daughter Kimberly Brown and her band, DJ Jamal Guy, emcee Bukata Hayes and special guest speakers. For more info, visit bit. ly/RichfieldJuneteenth.

THE ART OF FREEDOM: A JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

June 17 – Noon to 6 p.m.

UROC

2001 Plymouth Ave. North, Minneapolis

The University of Minnesota event will feature Black vendors, speakers, workshops, poster showcases, storytellers, musicians, performers, DJs, roller skating, books, free food, free haircuts, art-making, a bouncy house and a petting zoo. The event will begin with a commemorative march at noon, which leaves from the University’s Robert J. Jones Urban Research and OutreachEngagement Center (UROC). The march will end where the outdoor block party will take place. For more info, visit juneteenth. umn.edu.

June 17 – 2 p.m.

Charles Thompson Memorial Hall 1824 Marshall Ave., St. Paul

Charles Thompson Hall is hosting a Juneteenth cookout for the Black deaf community and their families. Families are expected to bring their own meat to grill. For more info, visit @Charles ThompsonHall on Facebook.

ROCC THE CITY JUNETEENTH

June 17 – 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Dodge Nature Center 365 Marie Ave. West, West St.Paul

Residents of Color Collective are partnering with Dakota Parks, Dakota Library, 360 Communities and others for a celebration at the nature center. There will be BIPOC-owned businesses to shop from and a variety of activities and live music. For more info, visit bit.ly/ROCCJuneteenth.

By Dr. Dionne Hart

Guest Contributor

Juneteenth National Independence Day is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved Black/African Americans. It marks June 19, 1865 which commemorates the day slavery was outlawed in Texas.

Juneteenth is also referred to as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, and Black Independence Day. On February 3, 2023, Governor Tim Walz signed a bill making the day a Minnesota state holiday.

Three years ago, Minnesota was ground zero for a national uprising that became an international call to protect the civil rights of Black Americans and other disenfranchised minority groups throughout the world. This year as you celebrate Juneteenth, I urge you to focus on the health impacts of ongoing structural racism and embrace ways to minimize your risk.

Here are a few options:

• Black Americans are at least four times more likely to be killed by a gun than the general population, and 12 times more likely than a White person.