Photo: @j3collection
A Juneteenth celebration featuring music, food, and more is coming up this weekend in Springdale.
Freedom Festival will take place on Sunday, June 19 at Shiloh Square in downtown Springdale, and will include performances by Montell Jordan, Morris Day and the Time, Lamar Campbell, Mr. Sipp, Jukeboxx Party Band, and more.
In addition to the music on Sunday, the event will include giveaways, food trucks, a Black Owned Business Fair, a wellness fair, games and family activities, a drum making workshop, and more.
The local Freedom Festival celebration was created through a partnership by Music Moves, Community Cohesion Project (CCP), Interform, University of Arkansas Juneteenth Committee, Crystal Bridges, and is sponsored by Walton Family Foundation, Tyson Family Foundation and Shiloh Museum of Ozark History.
The event is free to attend, and open to the public.
Juneteenth, also known as the “African American Emancipation Day,” originated in Galveston, Texas in 1865, and is the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery. The day was recognized as a federal holiday when president Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law last year.
A few other Juneteenth-related events are scheduled in Northwest Arkansas this week as well. Crystal Bridges will host their second annual Black Film Showcase tonight (June 16) at 6 p.m. in their great hall. The event will include film screenings, and filmmaker discussions moderated by Ify Egbosimba.
Crystal Bridges will also celebrate Juneteenth with their Forest Concert Series show on Saturday night. Music Moves has also partnered with them to host performances by Genine LaTrice Perez and Ricky Wade as they explor the genre of Black protest music from the 1970s to the present. Here’s more about that.
Local bar Kingfish will also host a Juneteenth celebration featuring live music on Sunday, June 19. The bar will host live music by Brae Leni and the Blackout, Noble C, and Olando Muzic, with food provided by Krristen Crosby. The bar will accept donations for Music Moves. This event begins at 2 p.m. Here’s more.
A full schedule of performances for Freedom Fest is below.
For a bit more information, visit their Facebook event.
Freedom Fest Performance Lineup
1 p.m. – Jukeboxx Party Band
2:30 p.m. – Mr. Sipp
4:15 p.m. – Lamar Campbell
6 p.m. – Montell Jordan
8 p.m. – Morris Day & The Time
Event Poster
