CLEVELAND (June 6, 2023) – Cleveland welcomes visitors to celebrate Juneteenth with the city’s dynamic arts and culture community leading the festivities. This year, new events and exhibits join the city’s annual Freedom Fest to commemorate the holiday.

EVENTS & PERFORMANCES

Cleveland Juneteenth Freedom Fest

Now in its third year, the MetroHealth Cleveland Juneteenth Freedom Fest expands to two days in 2023. The free celebration kicks off Friday with fireworks over Downtown Cleveland at sundown. On Saturday, a family-friendly celebration on Mall C will feature performances from Karamu House– the nation’s oldest Black producing theater, Djapo Cultural Arts Institute and Hubbs Groove. The event also includes interactive art demonstrations, roller-skating, and a Vendor Village and Soul Food Row spotlighting Black businesses. The event takes place Friday, June 16 and Saturday, June 17 at Mall C in Downtown Cleveland.

Mx. Juneteenth: A Black & Queer Liberation Celebration

Mx. Juneteenth celebrates freedom and community with an event featuring live music, drag performances, local vendors, food and educational workshops. The event honors the spirit of the Juneteenth holiday by providing a liberatory space and environment of respect. Mx. Juneteenth takes place Saturday, June 17 at Blk Punx Press.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Juneteenth Gospel Performance & Panel

Hosted on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s front plaza, this event will feature a performance from The Christian Brothers along with a panel discussion about gospel music’s influence on rock and roll. The event is free but requires tickets to be reserved in advance.

Juneteenth African Dance & Drum Fest

Presented by Djapo Cultural Arts Institute, this weekend-long event celebrates Juneteenth through art, music, dance, history and culture. Guest instructors will teach a variety of traditional African dance styles in classes held June 17 and 18 at the Pivot Center for Art, Dance & Expression. Saturday night’s inaugural “Juneteenth Night of Unity” will offer an evening of reflection, remembrance and celebration.

HISTORICAL & CULTURAL SITES

African American Cultural Garden

Located in Rockefeller Park along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, the African American Cultural Garden conveys the past, present and future of the African American community. The construction of three pavilions (one currently complete) will tell a story that starts with the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. Developers of the garden seek to create a space that promotes interest in African American culture and heritage and inspires a spirit of friendship among all people.

St. John’s Episcopal Church – “Station Hope”

Founded in 1816, St. John’s Episcopal Church in the Ohio City neighborhood was once a stop on the Underground Railroad. St. John’s became known as “Station Hope” as the bell tower served as a hideout for people escaping slavery to watch for the signal from boats on Lake Erie that would transport them to Canada. The site hosts an annual Station Hope event developed by Cleveland Public Theatre. 

Cozad-Bates House

The only remaining pre-Civil War structure in Cleveland’s University Circle neighborhood, the Cozad-Bates House is home to an interpretive center focusing on the neighborhood’s history as a center of the abolitionist movement. Exhibits are organized in three areas: the national and local context for slavery leading up to the Civil War, stories of anti-slavery activists and freedom seekers and a space that examines the impacts of slavery still seen today. Outdoor spaces combine art and landscape to highlight the people and places of the Underground Railroad network in Cleveland. 

To keep up-to-date on new developments and activities, please visit www.thisiscleveland.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.

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ABOUT DESTINATION CLEVELAND: Destination Cleveland is Cleveland’s destination marketing and management organization. This private, non-profit organization’s mission is to drive economic impact and stimulate community vitality for Greater Cleveland through leisure and business travel. In 2021, visitation to Cuyahoga County rebounded to 16.1 million visits, a 17% increase after the COVID-19 global pandemic reduced visitation by 30 percent in 2020. Destination Cleveland continues its work to rebuild the travel and tourism industry, with the goal of exceeding pre-pandemic success as quickly as possible. For more information, visit www.thisiscleveland.com.