Flags, banners, lights and various events will be part of Lexington’s Juneteenth festivities.
“This is our first opportunity to truly celebrate Juneteenth as a national holiday, and thanks to those in the community, we’re going to have a big celebration,” Mayor Linda Gorton said.
Community organizers are hosting events to celebrate Juneteenth. Flags and banners running through the city centre will work with businesses to light up their buildings to support and raise awareness during the festive season.
Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, became an official federal holiday last year. It’s America’s longest-running national commemoration to end slavery—June 19 is the day that all enslaved people in the United States are legally freed.
“This is the first year the city has truly been able to celebrate Juneteenth as a national holiday, and it’s important that we support a variety of local grassroots Juneteenth events and festivities,” said Assemblyman James Brown.
Juneteenth flags will begin decorating Main Street on June 13. There will also be banners along the Legacy Trail. Downtown, Central Bank Building, LexPark Garage and Pedways, Rupp Arena, Transylvania University and the University of Kentucky will light up their buildings and structures and display digital signage promoting the festival.
Events that highlight Lexington’s festivities:
- tenth soulAs part of SoulFeast Week, which kicks off June 18 at the Moondance Amphitheater, it celebrates black liberation and ingenuity through music, art, agriculture and food.
- It was followed by the 17th June Jubilee In African Cemetery 2. It highlights the spirit of freedom and pays tribute to the Civil War soldiers who fought for freedom.
- June 19, a Juneteenth It will be held at the Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Park hosted by the American League of Free People in Kentucky. The festival will include vendors, entertainment, children’s activities and a community fraternity celebrating black liberation.
- On the evening of June 19, Wiseguys Barbershop and Georgetown St. Neighborhood Association.will render a Juneteenth Celebrationat Douglas Park from 5-9 p.m. and includes food, inflatables and music.
- The end of the celebration will be Affrilachian Poets Literary Events at the Lyric Theater and Cultural Arts Center. The event features prominent members of the Affrilachian poets. The hosts of the evening will be Kentucky Poet Laureate Crystal Wilkinson and former Kentucky Poet Laureate Frank X Walker.
event schedule
Saturday 18 June
tenth soul
Organizer: Soul Feast Week
Moondance Amphitheater – 1152 Monarch St.
noon – 7pm
June Jubilee
Provider: African Cemetery No. 2
African Cemetery No. 2 – 419 E. 7th Street
7pm to 8:30pm
Sunday 19 June
Juneteenth
Presented by: American League of Free People of Kentucky
Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden – 577 E. Third St.
11am to 7pm
Juneteenth Celebration
Sponsored by: Wiseguys Barbershop and Georgetown St. Neighborhood Association.
Douglas Park – 726 Georgetown St.
5pm to 9pm
Juneteenth Independence Day Celebration
Affrilachian Poets Literary Events
Organizer: Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center
Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center – 300 E. Third St.
7pm
Visit lexingtonky.gov/juneteenth to learn more about events and activities happening in Lexington throughout the weekend.