Juneteenth: Celebrating Freedom, Honoring Heritage
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is a holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. It is observed annually on June 19th. The holiday originated in Galveston, Texas, where on June 19, 1865, Union Army General Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3, announcing the end of slavery in Texas, and nearly two & a half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Juneteenth became a federal across the country and state holiday in Illinois in 2021.
Springfield, like some many other communities across the country, celebrates Juneteenth. 2026 will mark 32 years since the first Juneteenth celebration in Springfield. And to commemorate, organizers have set up a week-long celebration. Check out these events throughout Springfield from June 12th-19th.
6/12 Juneteenth Family Day Celebration: The Illinois State Museum will hold the celebration at the Old State Capitol. Enjoy art, explore history, engage with Illinois State agency partners and share in the spirit of Juneteenth.
6/12 Noir 6 Art Exhibition: The Old State Capitol also hosts the annual NOIR art exhibition curated by local artists on the evening of June 12th.
6/12-6/19 Emancipation Proclamation on Display: The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library will have a rare copy of the Emancipation Proclamation signed by Abraham Lincoln on display, free to view for the public.
6/13 Annual Juneteenth Celebration Unity Parade: Join us for this annual tradition. The parade begins at Martin Luther King Jr Drive & South Grand Ave and finishes at Comer Cox Park.
6/13-6/14 Juneteenth 2026 Park Celebration: The 2-day celebration at Comer Cox Park features live music, performances, family activities, games, car show, food trucks, basketball tournament, and more. Headlining the musical acts on the 13th will be The LeVert Experience. Sunday the 14th will feature Praise in the Park and a Gospel Community Hour.
6/15 Free-ish - Juneteenth & The Long Legacy of 1619: Join the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum for a conversation with award winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones on the topic of Juneteenth & the legacy of slavery.
6/16 Juneteenth Youth Celebration: Community organization One In A Million hosts this free celebration for youth complete with games, bounces houses, basketball, and more.
6/18 Levitt AMP Concert featuring The Psychodelics: Funk band The Psychodelics play a special free concert at the Y-Block in downtown Springfield near the Illinois Governor's Mansion. Immediately following the concert there will be drone show in the skies above.
6/18 The Nature of Freedom: A Literary Commemoration of Juneteenth: The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum hosts this readers theater piece performance. There is a free evening performance (advanced registration required) on June 18th. There are also daytime performances June 11th, 13th, 17th, & 19th included with paid admission to the museum.
6/19 Free Admission to the ALPLM: In honor of Juneteenth, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum will be offering free admission.
6/19 Glory Film Screening: The ALPLM will be hosting free (registration required) evening screening of the epic historical war drama Glory followed by a discussion about the film with a historian.
6/19 Free Admission at the Henson Robinson Zoo: The Henson Robinson Zoo invites you to connect with the community and nature with free admission to the zoo.
6/19 Juneteenth Youth Breakfast & Fine Arts Show: The Salvation Army of Springfield will host the breakfast honoring freedom, creativity and the next generation.
6/19 Lowcountry Seafood Boil: A Historical Gullah Geechee Immersion Dinner: Purchase your tickets in advance for this dinner that takes you through a journey of Gullah Geechee culture. This event takes place at the Pasfield House.
Please join us for these events as we celebrate the ideals of freedom, equality, and justice that Juneteenth represents.