How to celebrate Juneteenth in Indianapolis
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Juneteenth is Friday, and Indianapolis has several ways to celebrate despite the holiday's unofficial status in Indiana.
The big picture: The June 19 holiday commemorates the day in 1865 — more than two months after the Civil War ended and two years after Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation declared an end to slavery — when enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, learned they'd been freed.
State of play: 30 states and D.C. have followed the federal government's lead in designating Juneteenth as a holiday.
- At least 33 states and the nation's capital will give most state government workers a paid day off.
- Neither of those things is happening statewide in Indiana, but Juneteenth is an observed holiday in Marion County.
Zoom in: The annual Indy Juneteenth Celebration is moving to a new home for its ninth year.
- Now taking place at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, the free event combines a parade, fireworks and festival in one location from 4-10pm Saturday.
- Other highlights include food trucks, a Double Dutch competition, an art gallery walkthrough, a kids zone and an Afrobeats performance.
Yes, but: You don't have to wait until Saturday to start celebrating.
On Friday, the Celebration of Connection runs from 10am-5pm at Eiteljorg Museum. The free gathering has poetry readings, a roller skating performance, Double Dutch and live music.
- A free party that combines Ujamaa Community Bookstore's fifth anniversary and the Flanner House Juneteenth Celebration runs from 11am-3pm at Ujamaa.
- A Juneteenth celebration at Indiana Landmarks from 5-9pm opens with a free screening of "Mosiah," a short film on Marcus Garvey's 1932 mail fraud trial.
- POWER: Drag Revue Juneteenth Celebration runs from 9-11:30pm at White Rabbit Cabaret, hosted by Miss Gay Black Indiana Desiree Bouvier with tickets starting at $15.
- The Juneteenth Juke Joint will be open from 8:30pm-1am at Untitled. Pay $5 at the door or $6.50 online for access to filmmakers who will be asking attendees what Blackness means to them for a short film.
On Saturday, the Juneteenth Run for Wellness through White River State Park starts at 8am at the Indiana State Museum.
- The museum's Juneteenth Celebration follows at 10am, featuring Tuskegee Airmen history, animal visits, line dancing and free bike helmets.
- Juneteenth Quilting Day starts at 11am at Arts for Learning. Expect free, hands-on quilting and button-making for kids.
- The Emancipated: A Juneteenth Celebration block party runs from 12-5pm at Mt. Carmel Church with food trucks, vendors and gospel music.
Sunday will bring Juneteenth at Crown Hill Cemetery.
- From 4-8pm, enjoy a free outdoor concert featuring gospel artist Terrance Dennie, The Downstroke Band and jazz musician Rob Dixon.