Juneteenth Parade and Celebration

Presented By:

Northcott Neighborhood House

Dates:

June 19, 2025

Parade Hours on N Dr. MLK Jr. Drive: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Street Celebration: 9:00 AM - 4:00 pm.

Summerfest: 6:00 pm - 11pm.

Juneteenth is a holiday celebrated in cities across the United States to commemorate the emancipation. The Milwaukee Juneteenth Day Celebration is a community-wide event organized as a street festival with various family-friendly activities taking place over the course of a day.

One of the largest and longest-running Juneteenth celebrations in the country, drawing more than 50,000 people every year. Now in its 53rd year, the festival brings families together through food, music, art, and education. TMJ4 News will broadcast this year's parade for the 4th year. Parade participants include members of the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Bucks, Milwaukee Brewers, and Marquette Men's Basketball team. More than 300 vendors line King Drive selling local food and products.

Milwaukee is known as the 'City of Festivals,' for its rich tradition of hosting vibrant, diverse celebrations that bring communities together. As part of this legacy, Summerfest, presented by American Family Insurance and Northcott Neighborhood House, invite the community to join in celebrating music and culture with Juneteenth programming at Summerfest on the evening of Thursday, June 19, 2025, starting at 6:00pm. Programming will take place following the traditional Milwaukee Juneteenth Day parade and festival on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive,.

JUNETEENTH HISTORY

Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, is a holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. The holiday originated in Texas and has been celebrated by African Americans since the late 1800s. On June 19, 1865, General Gordon Granger of the Union Army arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that all slaves in Texas were free. This announcement came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863. The first Juneteenth celebration took place in Texas on June 19, 1866, and included parades, speeches, and other festivities.

Today, Juneteenth is recognized as a federal holiday in the United States, and in Milwaukee, this significant day is honored with a variety of events and activities that reflect the rich culture and heritage of the African American community. From parades and festivals featuring live music, dance performances, and delicious cuisine, to educational workshops and historical exhibitions, Juneteenth in Milwaukee serves as a platform for unity, reflection, and the ongoing pursuit of equality and justice. It is a time for people of all backgrounds to come together, celebrate freedom, and reaffirm their commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable society. In 2025, Milwaukee’s Juneteenth celebration will commemorate 54 years of history and culture.

A TASTE OF JUNETEENTH

As an extension of the annual Juneteenth celebration on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Summerfest and Northcott Neighborhood House will debut a new ticketed event, “A Taste of Juneteenth" on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Summerfest, featuring a lineup of local food vendors. Attendees will have the opportunity to sample dishes from local entrepreneurs, chefs, and restaurants in the area. Proceeds from “A Taste of Juneteenth” will directly support the participating vendors, which include:

Atwood Hwy BBQ Company, Dear Florence Sweets, Glad’s Kitchen, It’s Smackn, Jericho’s BBQ, Johnny’s Kitchen Creations, Peachy’s Plates, Pop’s BBQ Memphis Style, K’s Finger Food Catering, and Uyghur Grill.

“A Taste of Juneteenth” will be offered from 12:45 p.m. - 2:00 p.m on June 21, with live music from a local DJ.  Tickets are $100 and include same day admission to Summerfest. Buy Now(opens in new tab at store.summerfest.com)

LINEUP

Dedicated programming and music during Juneteenth Day at Summerfest will take place across multiple festival ground stages and feature artists including Gary Clark Jr., Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Ginuwine, Joy Oladokun, Mike Jones, The Isley Brothers, Eric Benét, Fabolous, The Shonn Hinton Experience, Buffalo Nichols, and more. Stay tuned for additional artists, including a variety of local musicians.

Full Lineup

The Isley Brothers with Eric Benét will headline the BMO Pavilion with Miller Lite on June 19, 2025. Tickets for reserved seating will go on sale Friday, February 7, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. via Ticketmaster.com(opens in new tab at www.ticketmaster.com), or in person at the Summerfest Box Office, and include admission to Summerfest the day of the performance.  

Concerts at the BMO Pavilion during Summerfest offer seating options for all evening headlining performances.  Fans have the choice of reserved seats available for purchase or free general admission seating on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the show.

OPENING CEREMONY

Summerfest will host a special opening ceremony with Northcott Neighborhood House that will recognize Juneteenth Day with performances, remarks from representatives, and special acknowledgment of Juneteenth scholarship recipients including Ms. Juneteenth, Mr. Juneteenth, Little Ms. Juneteenth, and Little Mr. Juneteenth.