CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA (May 25, 2022) — The African American Museum of Iowa is excited to announce its Juneteenth celebration will return on Saturday, June 18 at the NewBo City Market. Join us for a free day of programs and activities for the entire family.
Juneteenth is an annual, nation-wide celebration of the freeing of the last enslaved people in the United States on June 19, 1865, when news of the Emancipation Proclamation at last reached Confederate Galveston, Texas. Although this celebration has been recognized in some communities for many years, it was only designated as a federal holiday last year.
The AAMI will celebrate Juneteenth on Saturday, June 18 with its annual festival. This free event will be live at NewBo City Market, 11AM–4PM, and include stage entertainment, community-organization vendor booths, activities, and offerings from the Market. DJ Commando will join us as we welcome a variety of talented dance, spoken-word, and musical performances. Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell will deliver a proclamation, and MC Jemar Lee will lead the journey, introducing each performance.
The Museum’s 2022 Juneteenth celebration is presented by Cargill and co-sponsored by Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust, Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission, City of Iowa City, Collins Community Credit Union, and Skogman Companies.
About AAMI: The African American Museum of Iowa is a statewide museum dedicated to preserving, exhibiting, and teaching Iowa’s African American history. As Iowa’s leading educational resource on the topic, we educate more than 30,000 people each year through museum tours, traveling exhibits, research services, youth- and adult-education programs, and community and fundraising events.
