On June 19, 1865, Black Americans were finally emancipated from slavery — two years after slavery was legally abolished.
Now, 161 years later, Juneteenth is a day we reflect on that history and celebrate freedom. In Indy, the celebrations last longer than one day. We gathered 16 events that run June 6-21. The annual Indy Juneteenth parade and festival is back and bigger than ever at its new spot at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
And there’s lots more. You can join a morning run, watch a drag show, learn how to quilt or grab some friends and family and head to a big block party.
Juneteenth Jamboree
🗓️ 9am – 3 p.m., Saturday, June 6
📍The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, 3000 N. Meridian St.
🎟️ Free
Get free admission to the Children’s Museum and enjoy a marketplace, singing, dancing, a community art piece and Miss Indy Juneteenth’s Sashes of Information. Reserve your free ticket ahead of time.
Juneteenth Foodways Festival
🗓️ 4:30 – 8 p.m., Friday, June 12
📍Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, 1230 N. Delaware St.
🎟️ Free, but reserve a ticket
Come taste, celebrate and shop from local Black-owned businesses at the fifth annual Juneteenth Foodways Festival, which honors Dolly Johnson, the first Black chef at the White House.
‘STILL WORKIN’ New Stage Play Reading
🗓️ 4:30 – 8 p.m., Friday, June 12
📍Ujamaa Community Bookstore, 2424 Dr. M.L.K. Jr St.
🎟️ Free, but donations are welcome
Austin Dean Ashford’s new play “STILL WORKIN’” imagines a neighborhood cookout in 2045 that turns into a reflection on reparations, data centers and freedom. The staged reading is a sneak peek at Ashford’s brand new Afrofuturistic Juneteenth play, and your feedback will shape the next script.
6th Annual Juneteenth Jubilee
🗓️ 4 – 8 p.m., Saturday, June 13
📍Arts for Lawrence, 8920 Otis Ave.
🎟️ Free
Arts for Lawrence will transform the Fort Ben Cultural Campus into a space for reflection and joy with music, art and food. It’s free and family-friendly.
CBLC Book Fest and Juneteenth Celebration
🗓️ 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, June 13
📍Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair St.
🎟️ Free
One downtown Saturday, two big reasons to leave the house: Black storytelling and queer joy. The Central Library’s Center for Black Literature & Culture will host the 9th Annual Book Fest and Juneteenth Celebration, featuring fantasy writing phenom Tomi Adeyemi. As a bonus, if you step outside you can join Indy Pride for their annual Pride Parade.
Juneteenth Rhythm and Poetry
🗓️ 8:30 p.m., Thursday, June 18
📍Phiri Art Gallery, 120 E. Market St.
🎟️ Starting at $23.18
Try your hand at candle making or express yourself with a sip and paint activity, all while listening to spoken word poetry, Afrobeats and soul music.
Juneteenth: A Celebration of Connection
🗓️ 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Friday, June 19
📍Eiteljorg Museum, 500 W. Washington St.
🎟️ Free
Roller skates, jump ropes, poetry and protest. The Eiteljorg’s free Juneteenth event spotlights how Black communities turned movement into meaning using Double Dutch, spoken word, dance and music as a form of storytelling.
Juneteenth Celebration
🗓️ 5 – 9 p.m., Friday, June 19
📍Indiana Landmarks, 1201 Central Ave.
🎟️ Free for the screening, $25 for the celebration after
Marcus Garvey promoted Black pride, unification and self-determination. And he left an impact on Indianapolis. Learn more about that connection at Indiana Landmarks’ free screening of “Mosiah,” a short film about Garvey’s 1932 mail fraud trial. After the film, stick around for a panel discussion, a buffet, drinks and live music.
Ujamaa’s five-year anniversary
🗓️ 11am – 3 p.m., Friday, June 19
📍Ujamaa Community Bookstore, 2424 Dr. M.L.K. Jr St.
🎟️ Free
Flanner House’s annual Juneteenth Celebration returns with a double celebration: freedom, community, and five years of Ujamaa Community Bookstore. Ujamaa — the Swahili word for “familyhood” and cooperative economics — honors the idea that communities thrive when they invest in one another.
POWER: Drag Revue Juneteenth Celebration
🗓️9 – 11:30 p.m., Friday, June 19
📍White Rabbit Cabaret, 1116 Prospect St.
🎟️ $15, must be 21+
POWER Drag Revue returns for a Juneteenth takeover at The White Rabbit Cabaret. Hosted by Miss Gay Black Indiana, Desiree Bouvier, expect a night of drag, performance art and a stacked lineup of entertainers pushing glam, heat and spectacle.
Juneteenth morning run
🗓️ 9 a.m., Saturday, June 20
📍Indiana State Museum, 650 W. Washington St.
🎟️ Free
Start your day with yoga and a warm-up before taking off for a run through the festivities downtown. And to cool down, join a group line dancing lesson before hearing from speakers about Black mental health.
Juneteenth Celebration
🗓️10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, June 20
📍Indiana State Museum, 650 W. Washington St.
🎟️ Free
Learn about the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, pet some cats and dogs, join Sassy Seniors for line dancing and grab a free bike helmet while supplies last. Plus, 11 more state historic sites across Indiana will be free for the day.
Juneteenth Quilting Day
🗓️11 a.m., Saturday, June 20
📍Arts for Learning, 3328 E 10th St.
🎟️ Free
Bring your kids to learn about culture across generations in a hands-on creative session led by Vickie Daniels and Theo Ball. Make a quilted book, design custom buttons and tap into tradition at this free, all-ages community art experience.
Block Party at Legacy Fest
🗓️1 – 7 p.m., Saturday, June 20
📍Madam Walker Legacy Center, 617 Indiana Ave.
🎟️ Free
Indiana Avenue turns into a block party. Expect the street to be alive with food trucks rolling through, local vendors and performances honoring Black Music Month.
Indy Juneteenth Festival
🗓️ 4 p.m., Saturday, June 20
📍Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St.
🎟️ Free
The annual Indy Juneteenth parade, fireworks show and festival are all packed into one day and one location this year. Grab a bite from food trucks, enter a double Dutch competition, walk through an art gallery and bring the family to check out the free kids zone. From 6-9 p.m. you can dance to an Afrobeats performance.
Juneteenth at Crown Hill Cemetery
🗓️ 4-8 p.m., Sunday, June 21
📍Crown Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery, 700 W. 38th St.
🎟️ Free
Bring your fan and grab a lawn chair to listen to performances from gospel artist Terrance Dennie, The Downstroke Band and jazz from Rob Dixon, the Musical Mayor of Indianapolis.
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Chelsea Reynowsky is a Mirror Indy freelance contributor and digital marketing coordinator at the Indy Arts Council. You can reach them at creynowsky@indyarts.org.
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