Forever Free

Run the Block: Juneteenth Unity Run/Walk

Friday, June 19, 6 –9 p.m.
Esoteric Brewing Co.
918 E McMillan St., Cincinnati

6:30 p.m. Welcome and stretch
6:45 p.m.  Run/walk starts

After the fun at the Freedom Center ends, head to Walnut Hills for the Juneteenth Unity Run/Walk. The route features a 1.8 Mile loop and 1.4 Mile walking loop in Walnut Hills. Afterparty features DJ AQ, fitness challenges, raffle prizes, and Black-owned businesses.

Sponsored by Tri-State Running, Pig Works, and Hoka

FREE event, participants are asked to RSVP here.

In 2021, Juneteenth officially became a Federal holiday. But since June 19, 1866 – the first anniversary of the day when Union troops arrived in Galveston to announce the end of slavery – “Jubilee Day” has been commemorated with community celebrations.

True to the spirit of those earliest Juneteenth celebrations, The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center welcomes everyone to join the Juneteenth Jubilee on Friday, June 19, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with live music, food trucks and a Community Market, with activities spilling out onto Freedom Way.

The day begins with Opal’s Walk for Freedom, commemorating the advocacy of Dr. Opal Lee – the “Grandmother of Juneteenth” – to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.

Guests will also enjoy free museum admission thanks to the Fifth Third Foundation. They can experience drop-in programming centered around the theme “What does Afro-futurism mean to you?” and give back through the Juneteenth Blood Drive with Hoxworth Blood Center.

The current exhibit at the Freedom Center, “Jubilation! Ambassadors on a Sacred Journey” immerses visitors in the legacy of the Fisk Jubilee Singers®, the Grammy-Award winning world-renowned ensemble group that introduced African American spirituals to the world.

This exhibit not only honors the Fisk Jubilee Singers’ historic contributions and their roles as ambassadors of Fisk University, a historically Black university, but it also emphasizes their lasting influence on American music and culture. Jubilation! celebrates their work as pioneers who used music as a tool for resilience, empowerment, and social change.

Performances throughout the day feature 2nd Wind Band, DJ Vader, Ijo Ugo Performing Arts, Skate Downtown Cincy and DJ Arie. Guests will find family-friendly fun with Indigo Hippo, Black Lit Books, The Gaskins Foundation, and Cincinnati Metro, plus free screenings of “Afrofantastic: The Transformative World of Afrofuturism” and “Space is the Place.” Cincinnati Observatory will be onsite with a Pop-Up Planetarium!

Newly added to this year’s Juneteenth lineup is a special panel discussion featuring cast members from “Disney’s The Lion King,” at the Aronoff Center through July 5 as part of the Cincinnati Arts Association’s Broadway in Cincinnati series.

This unique conversation will explore the power of storytelling, representation and cultural legacy through one of the most celebrated productions in theatrical history. Panelists will share insights from their experiences in the production and reflect on themes that resonate deeply with Juneteenth.

For a full list of event at the Freedom Center visit freedomcenter.org/voice/event/juneteenth-jubilee-2026.