Concerts, parade and more planned to mark Juneteenth in Wichita this weekend
A full slate of events is lined up to celebrate Juneteenth in Wichita.
Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration that honors the ending of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger from the Union army landed in Galveston, Texas with news that slaves were free, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation signed by President Abraham Lincoln became official Jan. 1, 1863. Nearly 250 years of slavery in America had ended.
“It should be a day that everyone celebrates yet too few people know about it. Thankfully, that is starting to change,” Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said Wednesday at the Kansas African American Museum, where she proclaimed June 19 Juneteenth Day in Kansas.
CORE, which stands for Community Operations Recovery Empowerment, host JuneteenthICT in Wichita. The community engagement and leadership development non-profit organization was founded by Brandon Johnson, a Wichita City Council member.
CORE will offer a two-part celebration for Father’s Day and Juneteenth on Sunday. At 3:15 p.m., JuneteenthICT will have a Father’s Day Recognition event at The Center, 1914 E. 11th St. N. Suite B. Later, an R&B concert will be held from 6:30-9 p.m. at McAdams Park, 1329 E. 16th St. N. Bands Nostalgia and Somethin Xtra will perform. The concert costs $10 a ticket in addition to a JuneteenthICT armband. It’s $15 without an armband.
All JuneteenthICT events at McAdams Park require an armband. Armbands for children ages 5-12 are $3 on June 17, 18 and 20. Armbands for ages 13 and up are $5.
Armbands are available for purchase at the CORE Tent at all official JuneteenthICT events. They also can be bought at the Mulberry Art Gallery, 2721 E. Central Ave. Suite 215, or Jenny Dawn Cellars, 703 E. Douglas Ave. Suite 180.
The Historic Dunbar Theater, 1007 N. Cleveland, will host free movie showings on Saturday and Sunday to celebrate Juneteenth. On Saturday, Dunbar Theater will show a screening of BlacKkKlansman at 8 p.m. A question-and-answer session will follow with the writer, Oscar winner and Kansas native Kevin Willmott.
On Sunday, Dunbar will show the 1996 version of Space Jam at 4 p.m outside. Free popcorn will be available. Before the movie at 3 p.m., Dunbar will have a street party with DJ Don in the Mixx. Food trucks U-Hungry and My Madea’s Soul Food Truck will be there as well.
Here are some other events that celebrate Juneteenth:
Friday, June 17
Sounds of JuneteenthICT, 6-9 p.m. at McAdams Park. Vendors will open at 6 p.m. Rudy Love Jr. will perform from 7-8 p.m. followed by the Afterdark event from 8:15-9:15 p.m.
“Mila on Display,” featuring several artists, can be seen 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at Reuben Saunders Gallery, 3215 E. Douglas Ave.
Saturday, June 18
JuneteenthICT Park Celebration, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. at McAdams Park. The parade starts at 10 a.m. Other events include 2 mile walk or run race, kids’ activities, health village, vendors, food, music and more. For a full schedule of the day’s events and times, go to www.coreofwichita.org/juneteenthictschedule.
Sunday, June 19 (Juneteenth)
JuneteenthICT Community Service Project, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at 1756 N. Piatt. Volunteers will help paint a mural for the children and families in District 1 of Wichita. Volunteers must commit to at least one hour. You must sign up for the service project in advance at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0544ada829abf85-juneteenth/.
Monday, June 20
Inaugural JuneteenthICT Gospel Concert, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m at McAdams Park. Vendors will open at 6 p.m. Food trucks will also be present.
All week (June 14-20)
Juneteenth ICT Cocktail Week. Purchase a signature Juneteenth cocktail at select locations in Wichita. A percentage of the proceeds will support the JuneteenthICT scholarship pageant for next year. Participating locations are The Monarch, Vora, Jenny Dawn Cellars, Hopping Gnome, Apollo Fermentations and Public at the Brickyard. A few of the locations will use a Black-owned whiskey brand called Uncle Nearest for cocktails.
Saturday, June 25
Meet the Challenge Juneteenth Fashion Show, 6-9 p.m. CityArts, 334 N. Mead St., will host a fashion show for a group of Meet the Challenge students studying fashion design under Sydney Lenox-Barkus. Designers from ICT Fashion Tour will be present as well. Local art and goods from various vendors will be available for purchase. The event is free but a $5 donation will be accepted at the door to benefit the Meet the Challenge organization. Anyone who gives a $5 donation will be put into a raffle to win prizes from Black-owned businesses in Wichita. Meet the Challenge helps under-resourced youth by providing mentorship with professional artists.