Release Date: May 12,2026

Downtown Akron Juneteenth Kick-Off Celebration Returns June 7, 2026

Akron, Ohio — Downtown Akron Partnership (DAP) announces that the 2026 Downtown Akron Juneteenth Kick-Off Celebration will be held this year on Sunday, June 7, from 2 to 8 pm, at Lock 3. This year’s event theme is Cultivating Our Future.

Ebony Hill, co-chair of the Juneteenth planning committee, says "Juneteenth is about acknowledging the freedom, unbreakable spirit, creativity and wisdom that have always been a part of us, even in the face of adversity, and intentionally sowing those gifts into the future. This year’s celebration is an invitation for our community to come together, honor our history, celebrate our culture and plant seeds of hope, healing and possibility for the generations to come."

In line with the focus of this year’s celebration, festival-goers can enjoy free small-group workshops throughout the day that align with the seven principles of Kwanzaa:

Planting Seeds of Wisdom for the Future, a recording station for people to leave written or audio-recorded messages of wisdom for others (aligns with Umoja, or Unity)
Vision in Bloom: Designing the Future We Choose, where participants will have the opportunity to make a small vision board (aligns with Kujichagulia, or Self Determination)
Growing Together; Shared Work/Growth, which will feature a simple sewing tutorial (aligns with Ujima, or Collective Work & Responsibility)
Harvesting Wealth or Growing Community Prosperity, which will explore solidarity in economic principles (Aligns with Ujamaa, or Cooperative Economics)
The Purpose Garden: The Call to Grow, a container gardening class (Aligns with Nia, or Purpose)
Imagine and Create: Designing a Brighter Future, a workshop where participants will paint African masks (Aligns with Kuumba, or Creativity)
Spirit in Soil: Trusting What We Plant, a spiritual clearing activity with water and incense, breathwork and guided meditation (Aligns with Imani, or Faith)

Live entertainment will take place on the Maynard Performance Pavilion stage and will include a libation drum call and dance by Embracing Ur Journey, line dancing with JustUs Line Dance Crew, a saxophone performance by Saxy Rob, a choral performance of “Lift Every Voice” with Pastor Richard Cash, storytelling by the Cleveland Association of Black Storytellers, a group stroll performance by historically Black Greek organizations and a headlining musical performance by Jeremy Seeden. Ace Epps will emcee the celebration.

Additionally, artisans, vendors and resource providers will be set up around the Swensons Game Patio, and several food trucks and tents will provide a mix of sweet and savory culinary offerings. Free crafts and activities will be available for all event attendees.

The Downtown Akron Juneteenth Kick-Off Celebration is a community-led, consensus-driven observance of Black joy, history and hope. Planning of the event is facilitated by DAP with a committee of community members. The committee chose June 7 for this year's downtown event to serve as a kickoff to other Juneteenth Celebrations in the city. These celebrations include the 50 ^th Annual West Akron Parade; the Akron Urban League, NAACP and Freedom BLOC’s two-day Juneteenth: Stronger Together event; Angry Cow Poetry’s Juneteenth Celebration at the Rialto Theatre and others expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the date on which Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, and announced that 250,000 enslaved people in Texas were free by executive decree. More than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, scores of enslaved people were finally freed when Confederate control of the state was dissolved. Newly freed people in Texas christened the day “Juneteenth,” and the day has been celebrated for over 150 years. In 2021, Juneteenth became a federal holiday.

More information about the 2026 Downtown Akron Juneteenth Kick-Off Celebration will be available at downtownakron.com.

The 2026 Downtown Akron Juneteenth Kick-Off Celebration is presented by DAP in partnership with the City of Akron and Lock 3, with additional support from Knight Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, Akron Community Foundation, Akron Civic Commons and GAR Foundation. This year’s poster artwork was designed by Stephanie Stewart of P31 Art and Design.

Find out more about Downtown Akron Partnership. Follow us at www.downtownakron.com, and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.