On June 19, 1865, two months after the surrender of the Confederacy and two-and-a-half years after Lincoln's emancipation proclamation, Union soldiers landed in Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Later, the celebration of June 19 was coined "Juneteenth" and grew over the decades, with Texas passing a bill in 1980 marking Juneteenth as America's first state-recognized emancipation celebration.
Today, Skokie joins the 156-year-old holiday celebrating the emancipation of African Americans from enslavement.
Join the celebration at the following Skokie Juneteenth events:
Friday, June 18, 2021
Village Green
6-7 p.m. – Opening ceremonies with guest speakers from Skokie and surrounding areas, located between the Village Hall and the Skokie Public Library.
Saturday, June 19, 2021
Evanston
10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. – Evanston Juneteenth Parade
Devonshire Park
2-3 p.m. – Cooking demonstration by Chef Rob from Babito’s Bites & children’s activities
3-5 p.m. – Live performances, food for purchase from Babito’s bites, vaccine clinic onsite
Sketchbook Brewing Company in Skokie
6-9 p.m. – Live Performances, food for purchase by Soul and Smoke, special Juneteenth brew available for purchase. Proceeds go to a not-for-profit.
Plans are underway for a COVID-19 vaccination clinic in conjunction with the Devonshire Park Juneteenth events on June 19.
Skokie's Juneteenth celebration and activities are brought to the community by the Village of Skokie, Skokie Park District, Skokie United, Skokie Public Library and Sketchbook Brewing.