2025 Downtown Akron Juneteenth Celebration
Category: Event Calendar
Date and Time
- Sunday, Jun 1, 2025 12pm - 6pm
Location
Lock 3
200 S Main St
Details
We invite you to join us for the 2025 Downtown Akron Juneteenth Celebration in Lock 3 on Sunday, June 1, from noon to 6 pm.
Questions about the downtown Akron celebration? Find out more here.
Click here to view more upcoming Juneteenth celebrations in Akron.
Ebony Hill, co-chair of the Juneteenth planning committee, says “Our theme, ‘Revisiting Our History: Reclaiming Our Community,’ is both a remembrance and a charge. Juneteenth calls us to honor the struggles of our past, embrace our collective responsibility and actively shape a future rooted in unity, healing and Black excellence. By reclaiming our community, we restore pride, deepen connection and affirm our power to build what comes next.”
Meet the Artist
In creating this year’s celebration, the planning committee worked with a talented and accomplished local African American artist, Maliyah Clark, who created an illustration that “aims to highlight the vast cultural impact that Black people have had in America. The tree represents the roots that Black people have established. This tree also represents how Black culture has grown and changed over time.” Maliyah's artwork is featured in the event poster. View artwork by Maliyah Clark and her sister Makaylah Clark: https://blackstarcore.square.site/
Visit their tent at the celebration: BlackStar. In addition to selling their artwork, Maliyah will have a limited number of 2025 Juneteenth posters to sign and give away.
More to see and do
In line with the focus of this year’s celebration, the celebration will host small-group workshops and demonstrations led by individuals from throughout the community relating to preserving African American culture, strengthening community voices, financial empowerment, traditional health practices, appreciating African American beauty and more.
Other event highlights will include spoken word, storytelling and African dance performances; educationally focused crafts and live musical acts on the Maynard Performance Pavilion stage to fortify a joyful atmosphere. A wide range of retail and food vendors will also set up in Lock 3.
Interested in sponsoring this or other DAP programs? Learn more here.
For more information about the Akron Bicentennial, including Bicentennial events outside of downtown Akron, visit Akron200.org.
The 2025 Downtown Akron Juneteenth Celebration is presented by DAP and planned by the Downtown Akron Juneteenth Planning Committee, Ebony Hill and Will Blake, co-chairs.
The celebration is supported by the City of Akron, Lock 3 and the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office. Additional support is provided by Knight Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, Akron Community Foundation, Akron Civic Commons and GAR Foundation.
This year’s poster artwork was designed by Maliyah Clark.
