City Invites Community to Celebrate Juneteenth, Announces Holiday Schedule

The City invites community members to commemorate Juneteenth with a day of reflection, celebration, and community on Friday, June 19. The annual observance will begin with Opal's Walk for Freedom and conclude with a community celebration at Arrington Lagoon in Dawes Park.

Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, the day enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Recognized as a federal holiday since 2021, Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and celebrates Black culture, resilience, and achievement.

Opal’s Walk for Freedom

The day's events begin with Opal's Walk for Freedom, inspired by the lifelong advocacy of Dr. Opal Lee, known nationally as the "Grandmother of Juneteenth." Presented by Evanston Present and Future in partnership with the City of Evanston, Mari Enterprise, and Unity Unlimited, this nationally recognized event coincides with America's 250th anniversary and the 161st anniversary of Juneteenth.

The walk kicks off at Arrington Lagoon (1647 Sheridan Rd.) and follows the scenic lakefront path north toward Northwestern University before looping back to Lee Street Beach. Participants of all ages are invited to walk the 2.5-mile route, which symbolizes the two and a half years between the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and the enforcement of freedom in Texas. Festivities will also include an Opal Lee Barbie giveaway honoring Dr. Lee's place in Mattel's Inspiring Women collection and a "Colors of Juneteenth" coloring contest based on the coloring book and history guide by Kemone Hendricks.

City Juneteenth Celebration

Following the walk, community members are encouraged to gather at Arrington Lagoon in Dawes Park for a celebration hosted by the City. The Juneteenth Celebration will feature:

• Live music and cultural performances featuring GreenTTea & the Tempos and NAJWA Dance Corps
• Food vendors and community partners
• Family-friendly activities and children's programming
• Educational exhibits and historical displays
• Opportunities to support local businesses
• Community resource booths and civic engagement opportunities

Holiday Schedule & Service Changes

The City has announced the following facility closures and service schedules for the Juneteenth holiday on Friday, June 19.

Refuse Collection: Collection services will not take place on recognized holidays, including Juneteenth. All waste services will be postponed by one day.

Parking: Parking meters, pay boxes, and downtown parking garages will be free on Juneteenth. Restricted areas with signs prohibiting parking except on holidays will be honored. No street cleaning will occur on Friday, June 19.

Facility Closures: Morton City Hall, Chandler-Newberger Center, Gibbs-Morrison Cultural Center, Evanston Ecology Center, Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, Robert Crown Community Center, Levy Senior Center, Dr. Jorge and Luz Maria Prieto Community Center, and all Evanston Public Library locations will be closed Friday, June 19.

311: The 311 Center will be open on June 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The 311 Center is available online 24/7 at cityofevanston.org/311.

For more information, please call/text 847-448-4311. For convenience, community members may simply dial 3-1-1 in Evanston.