INDIANAPOLIS — For more than one-and-a-half centuries, the Juneteenth holiday has been sacred to many Black communities.
It marks the day – June 19, 1865 – when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas found out they had been freed – after the end of the Civil War, and two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation – officially ending slavery in the United States.
Juneteenth was first designated a federal holiday in 2021. Many people get the day off work or school, and there are a plethora of street festivals, fairs, concerts and other events.
Here's what you need to know about the festivities planned around central Indiana:
Juneteenth Foodways Festival
On Friday, June 14, the Juneteenth Foodways Festival will return to the Benjamin Harrison Presidential site, at 1230 N. Delaware St., for its third annual year. The celebration features over 30 Black-owned restaurants and caterers from the central Indiana area.
General admission is free, and a limited number of early access passes are available for $20.
To get your tickets, click here.
Columbus art show
From 6-10 p.m. on Friday, June 14, 411 Gallery in Columbus, Indiana, will host an art show called UNDERCURRENTS, guest-curated by ONE DROP and featuring artwork by Tasanee Durrett, India Hines and Nandi Jordan.
Indiana State Museum, historic sites
The Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites is offering free admission Saturday, June 15 at all 12 of its locations across the state, including the four in central Indiana.
The Indiana State Museum, as well as Levi and Catharine Coffin, T.C. Steele and Whitewater Canal state historic sites, will be open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Activities at the Indiana State Museum will center around the theme "History, Health and Arts."
Military Park
The seventh annual Indy Juneteenth Festival will take place in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday, June 15 from noon to 7 p.m. and will feature live entertainment, food trucks, vendors, games, bounce houses, education stations and more.
The day begins with a parade at Indiana and Blackford avenues from 10 a.m. to noon.
Admission is free.
Tarkington Park
Catch the Stars Foundation is hosting a free youth basketball clinic Saturday, June 15 from 11 a.m. to noon at 45 W. 40th St.
Pre-registration is required for all participants, who must be between ages 7 and 15.
The event will include performances, community vendors, food trucks, music and family fun.
Indianapolis Public Library
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 15 at the Central Library, there will be the seventh annual Book Fest & Juneteenth Celebration, offering a glimpse into African American art, literature and storytelling.
The featured speaker will be New York Times Bestselling author JaQuavis Coleman, who will talk about his new book, answer questions and sign books.
Eiteljorg Museum
The museum in downtown Indianapolis is offering free admission Saturday, June 15 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. as it hosts a Juneteenth and Jazz Community Celebration.
McCulloch Park
The fifth annual Juneteenth Celebration in Muncie is happening Saturday, June 15 from 2-9 p.m. at McCulloch Park.
The event includes free food from 3-6 p.m.; entertainment by MoJo Gumbo, Jerome Saxton and Cool Beanz Band; activities including open mic, games, giveaways, prizes, inflatables, cornhole, Delaware County Championship Wrestling and chess tournament; vendors and community tables to learn about local organizations and services.
Crown Hill Cemetery
The community is invited to a free event from 4-8 p.m. Saturday, June 15 to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.
Thomas "Sparklesoxx" Griffin is the guest speaker and emcee, with musical performances by Bashiri Asad, saxophonist Rob “The Mayor of Music” Dixon, Tony Bryant Project and DJ EazyKutz.
Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and hats to enjoy the performances.
Local food, drink and shopping vendors will also be onsite.
MXP Shop
At 7826 N. Michigan Road from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 16, MXP Shop is celebrating Juneteenth with local Black-owned brands, vendors, music, live entertainment and opportunities to learn about Juneteenth history.
Indiana Landmarks Center
From 6-8 p.m. on Sunday, June 16, the Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Preservation Program is celebrating Juneteenth with a special concert featuring gospel and blues music, highlighting their significance to Black faith, hope and survival.
The cost is $20 for Indiana Landmarks members and $25 for the general public.
Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library
From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 19, the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library is paying tribute to the history and culture of the Indiana Avenue block the museum sits on.
Newfields
The museum is hosting a Juneteenth Jubilee on Wednesday, June 19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The free event will include spoken word performances, art making with local artists, an artist panel and music throughout the Indianapolis Museum of Art, The Garden and The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park.
Conner Prairie
The living history museum in Fishers is hosting a free Juneteenth Jubilee from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 19.
Explore Black-owned businesses, community resources and local food vendors. If the weather cooperates, you can catch a ride on the 1859 Balloon Voyage.
IndyGo
IndyGo rwill have all routes, including IndyGo Access paratransit services, run on Saturday schedules Wednesday, June 19.
The Customer Care Center will be open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Care Center Desk at the Julia M. Carson Transit Center will be open from 9 a.m. to noon.
Riders can plan their trips on IndyGo using Google Maps, the Transit app or by visiting its website here.