Whether you want to indulge in food, music, fireworks or history, Juneteenth in Indianapolis will not disappoint.
The Recorder has compiled a list of events, activations and festivals around the city celebrating Juneteenth’s history and cultural impact throughout the month.
Saturday, June 7
Miss Indy Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant — $22.50
Basile Theatre at the Historic Athenaeum, 401 E. Michigan St.
Showcasing the talent, intelligence and leadership of young Black women, the 5th annual Miss Indy Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant aims to celebrate Black excellence and the next generation of changemakers.
indyjuneteenth.org/missindyjuneteenth
Thursday, June 12
United We Stand: A Juneteenth Celebration — $30
Skyline Club – Indianapolis, 1 American Square, 36th Floor
Community leaders, activists and supporters are invited to the Skyline Club for an evening of reflections and celebration. Guests will be treated to an elegant night of networking and fine dining.
Friday, June 13
4th Annual Juneteenth Foodways Festival — FREE
Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, 1230 N. Delaware St.
Honoring former White House chef Dolly Johnson, the Juneteenth Foodways Festival bring small business owners, restaurant owners and community members together each year, celebrating vibrant African American culinary traditions through tastings, demonstrations and storytelling.
READ MORE: Early access tickets on sale for Juneteenth Foodways Festival
Saturday, June 14
Center for Black Literature and Culture Bookfest and Juneteenth Celebration — FREE
Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair St.
Readers of all ages are invited to celebrate Juneteenth with the Indianapolis Public Library’s Center for Black Literature and Culture. Featuring author talks, workshops and live performances centered around the works of Langston Hughes and Toni Morrison, the event is themed “Liberating Minds: African American Literature and Libraries.”
indypl.org/programs-events/cblc-book-fest
Indy’s Global Village 4th Annual Juneteenth Event — $5
Global Village Welcome Center, 4233 Lafayette Road
The Global Village Welcome Center invites the community to celebrate global cultures and local Black heritage in tandem with Juneteenth. Featuring live music, dance, food and artisan vendors, the annual multicultural event aims to create a dynamic space to celebrate freedom and unity.
3rd Annual Indy Juneteenth Boxing Showcase: “Punches for Purpose” — $5-$100
Speedway Events Center, 2608 Founders Square Dr.
Local amateur and professional fighters from across the Midwest are coming together for a good cause. Raising money for community events and youth programs, this high-energy Juneteenth boxing showcase features 20 matches for all ages and weight classes.
Thursday, June 19
Black Resilience in Indiana: Building on the Heritage of Survival — FREE
Indiana Landmarks Center, 1201 Central Ave. & online
Indiana Landmarks celebrates Juneteenth with a powerful discussion exploring resilience, resistance and the legacy of survival among Indiana’s Black communities. Featuring poet and scholar Dr. Lasana D. Kazembe, the conversation is available to attend either in-person or online.
BlackResilience25.eventbrite.com
Indy Juneteenth Fireworks Show — $10
Sarkine Park, 6575 E. County Road 200 N., Avon, IN
The annual Juneteenth fireworks show returns to Sarkine Park this year, complete with food, music and fun for the whole family.
Saturday, June 21
Emancipated: A Juneteenth Celebration — FREE
Mount Carmel Church, 9610 E 42nd St.
Mount Carmel Church invites the community to celebrate the history of Juneteenth with a day of praise, fellowship and reflection, honoring emancipation and Black resilience through worship and celebration.
mtcarmelindy.org/connect/bulletin/juneteenth/
Juneteenth Celebration: History, Health & the Arts — FREE
Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, 650 W. Washington St.
The Indiana State Museum’s Juneteenth free admission day connects history, wellness and creativity through hands-on activities, live performances and cultural exhibits. Open to visitors of all ages, the event is designed to engage, celebrate and educate Hoosiers on Indiana’s stories.
Juneteenth and Jazz Community Celebration — FREE
Eiteljorg Museum, 500 W. Washington St.
Join the Eiteljorg Museum for a free afternoon of live jazz, cultural programming and community engagement honoring the history of Juneteenth and Black artistry in Indiana.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe graduated with a degree in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and her previous work includes freelancing for Indy Maven, Assistant Arts & Life Editor for The Lantern, and editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Chloe enjoys covering all things arts and culture — from local music, visual art, dance, theater and film, as well as minority-owned businesses. In her free time, Chloe enjoys reading, cooking and keeping her plants alive.
