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This Saturday, many Americans across the country will be observing Juneteenth, hosting cookouts, listening to music, catching shows and going to festivals — people in the city of Rochester included. 

Juneteenth is a federal holiday that commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, heard news of their emancipation.

“While President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, it took over two years for the news to reach all enslaved people, particularly in remote areas,” Rochester festival coordinator Nikia Washington said. “Juneteenth represents both the joy of freedom and the recognition that the fight for true equality continues. It’s often called ‘Freedom Day’ and celebrates African American culture, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of justice.”

On Saturday, June 14, with performances, vendors and activities planned, Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial Park along Chestnut Street will be filled with people celebrating African-American culture and the end of slavery. 

Some of the vendors include a diverse selection of cuisine and merchants selling goods and services. Community resource tables will also be around for people to learn more about local organizations and services. 

Rochester Juneteenth Festival theme: Maintaining Infinite Hope

The theme of the festival is “Maintaining Infinite Hope” — highlighting the significance of the “community’s ongoing quest for freedom, unity and a brighter future.”

A parade kicks off the festival at 11 a.m. Saturday at West Main and State streets.

“Hope encourages continuous progress; it helps us to stay focused on long-term goals and keeps us motivated. When setbacks happen while we are trying to reach our goals, HOPE gives us a chance to improve our circumstances,” Rochester Juneteenth parade coordinator Josie McClary said. “‘We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope.’”

Here are highlights from the Juneteenth Festival schedule

  • There will be an Elders Ceremony, featuring the Black National Anthem and Strings for Success.
  • Proclamations and awards will be given by the Mayor Malik Evans and Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, African drumming, Nguza Saba and community honors.
  • Live music will be played throughout the entirety of the event. There will be performances by Strings for Success, Ignite Reggae Band, D9 Choir, Judah Sealy and Frankie Beverly’s tribute band and Magnetic Flow.
  • Musical sets will also be played throughout the afternoon by DJ Coco and DJ BacSpin.
  • Not all performances will be musical though. There will also be a series of youth and dance performances by ROC Music, Robert Ricks Youth Group, Krump dancers and a Teen Empowerment segment.
  • At 7 p.m., Robert Glasper, Grammy and Emmy winner, will headline the festival. Glasper, 47, has been a musician and record producer known for music that provides cultural expression and liberation — his music combining artistry with activism.

There will be plenty to do outside of seeing performances including a rock-climbing wall, free haircuts, face painting for children and free admission to the Strong National Museum of Play.

“An event like Juneteenth is beneficial for the community because it affirms our identity as an incredibly resilient people who have overcome a multitude of adversities in order to thrive collectively,” said Rashaad Parker, commissioner of the Greater Rochester MLK Jr. Commission. “It is important that we celebrate our freedom from enslavement, our history, our culture, our heritage, our economic power, our ancestors, our community and our joy as we continue to ‘Maintain Infinite Hope’ even in the face of the current political climate.”

Juneteenth Festival: If you go

Date: June 14, 2025

Time: 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Location: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, 353 Court St, Rochester, 14607

For more information, visit https://www.rochesterjuneteenth.com.

— As a Rochester native, Justice Marbury entered the world of journalism to create work where voices like hers were heard — the voices of minority communities. Marbury covers small businesses, neighborhood concerns, and the interesting people who live in Rochester’s vibrant neighborhoods. As the 19th Ward reporter, she has helped implement community outreach ideas by asking what people in various communities want to read about themselves in addition to regular news. Contact her on Instagram @justice_marburyand by email at jmarbury@gannett.com.