CLEVELAND — Editor's note: The video in the player above is from a story published on June 4, 2021.
Summer has officially arrived in Northeast Ohio and while Destination Cleveland has many events planned for the season, the organization has also compiled a list of ways to celebrate Juneteenth in the C-L-E.
Destination Cleveland on Thursday announced a lineup and events and locations open to the public throughout the upcoming months that both highlight and honor the abolitionist movement in Cleveland. Below, you will find a list of the announced events and places to celebrate the Juneteenth holiday.
Juneteenth Freedom Fest
WHEN: June 19 from noon- 10 p.m.
WHERE: Mall C in downtown Cleveland
Featuring Grammy Award winners such as Terri Lyne Carrington and Lisa Fischer, this event will highlight Black businesses and stories. Guests will also be able to check out interactive art demonstrations, food trucks and other performances. The night will end with fireworks to cap off the celebration!
Amanda Wicker: Black Fashion Design in Cleveland
WHEN: Opening June 10
- Thursdays (noon- 8 p.m.)
- Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (10 a.m.- 4 p.m.)
WHERE: Cleveland History Center
The new exhibit at the Cleveland History center highlights designer Amanda Wicker, who moved to Cleveland in 1924 and attended the Clark School of Dressmaking and Fashion Design.
A staple in the Fairfax neighborhood of Cleveland, the school gave the predominantly African-American residents a chance to learn design and fashion skills, and the new exhibit at the Cleveland History Center shows Wicker's involvement in the community and fashion in her years.
Cozad-Bates House & A Bench by the Road
WHEN: Anytime
WHERE: 11508 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland
Northeast Ohioans can celebrate Juneteenth this year by checking out the only surviving pre-Civil War structure in Cleveland's University Circle.
The house is currently being developed into a center for information on University Circle's impact on the abolitionist movement and visitors will soon be able to take a virtual tour and walk the grounds. In-person visitors can also see the new black steel bench- a tribute to enslaved persons, inspired by "A Bench by the Road," a Toni Morrison project.
St. John’s Episcopal Church
WHEN: Anytime
WHERE: 2600 Church Avenue, Cleveland, OH
A major part of the abolitionist movement, St. John's picked up the nickname "Station Hope" among slaves looking for refuge. Runaway slaves would be able to watch for a signal from freedom boats on Lake Erie at the now historical marker. Destination Cleveland encourages everyone to check out this shining beacon of "hope" located right in the heart of the city.
A full list of Juneteenth events, programs and ideas can be found here.
Editor's note: The video in the player above is from a story published on Oct. 21, 2020.