CLEVELAND, Ohio — As crowds gather on Mall C in downtown Cleveland for a daylong celebration of Juneteenth, the city is once again honoring the day in 1865 when the last enslaved Black Americans in Texas were finally freed — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
Now in its fourth year, the MetroHealth Cleveland Juneteenth Freedom Fest is underway with a full slate of performances, family activities, local vendors and conversations about Black health and history. The free, family-friendly event runs from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday. While the event was expected to draw thousands, rainy weather early in the day appeared to have suppressed turnout, before skies began to clear around noon.
The annual Juneteenth celebration was born out of Cleveland’s response to the 2020 racial justice protests, when a coalition of civic and cultural organizations created the #VoicesofCLE art initiative to uplift the community and amplify Black voices. That same energy carried into 2021, when MetroHealth and dozens of local partners quickly launched the first Freedom Fest with just six weeks of planning. It has since grown into a major cultural gathering, drawing about 10,000 people last year.
This year’s festival features dozens of performers, including a tribute to Frankie Beverly & Maze by Karamu House — which is also celebrating its 110th anniversary. Performers throughout the day include The Unit Experience Project, the Glenville Glamourettes, Sankofa from Shaker Heights, and a gospel showcase featuring the Cleveland Chorale.
Soul Food Row offers a wide array of food options, from BBQ and fried seafood to vegan dishes and gourmet popsicles. Local artists and entrepreneurs line the vendor village, offering everything from handcrafted soaps and herbal remedies to fashion, jewelry and original artwork.
A central focus of the festival is health and wellness in the Black community. MetroHealth doctors are giving talks throughout the day on topics ranging from colon health and circulation to mental health, maternal care and childhood development.
Freedom Fest continues to emphasize Black-owned businesses, community healing, and conversations about racial equity. Even as festivalgoers enjoy music and food, they’re also invited to reflect, learn and connect in ways that align with the true meaning of Juneteenth: freedom, resilience and joy.
The celebration comes as other events unfold across the city, including two “No Kings” rallies being held downtown as part of a nationwide protest movement rejecting authoritarianism. The rallies are timed to coincide with President Donald Trump’s military parade in Washington, D.C., marking the Army’s 250th anniversary.
This story was written with the assistance of AI.
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