Beverly-Morgan Park Mark Juneteenth With Family Friendly Festival

CHICAGO — With June 19 officially declared a federal holid marking the end of slavery as a national holiday, a free, family-friendly celebration of Juneteenth will take place in Chicago’s historic Beverly/Morgan Park neighborhood on Saturday, June 19. The Juneteenth Family Festival and Black Business Crawl showcasing Black culture and Black-owned businesses runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Bring a chair or blanket, and enjoy the day's festivities with the family.

Hosted by the Beverly/Morgan Park Coalition of Black Community Members, the Southwest Chicago Diversity Collaborative and Burst Into Books, the local festivities provide an opportunity to reflect on history, celebrate as a community, support local businesses, learn more about health and wellness and just have fun.

Festival activities acknowledge and celebrate this critical moment in African American history while educating the community at large. Among festival offerings are African inspired storytelling; drumming circles where kids and adults can learn to play the djembe; West African dance lessons; children’s activities; educational workshops; vendors and much more.

The Juneteenth festival's main activities will convene at 110th Street and Longwood Avenue in the parking lots of Morgan Park Presbyterian Church, 2017 W. 110th Place, and Morgan Park United Methodist Church, 11030 S. Longwood Ave., and across the street at Bohn Park, 1966 W. 111th St.

The Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St., will also be providing West African dance lessons to kids and adults starting at 1 p.m.

Kimosha Murphy takes over the main stage at W. 110th and Longwood Drive at 3:30 p.m., telling the story of Juneteenth, followed by R&B/jazz band NuSource; and the Take Ova Gang, a group of incredible African American young men performing footwork and much more.

The Juneteenth family festival is organized by Shanya Gray, a board member of the Diversity Collaborative, and Jurema Gorham, owner of Burst Into Books.

“Too often, we think of history as a memorization of facts in school,” Gorham said. “But we create our own history every day, in the present. Celebrating our unique story and building on it is a strength.”

Additional community partners include the office of 19th Ward Ald. Matt O’Shea, the Beverly Arts Center, the Beverly Area Planning Association, the Morgan Park/Beverly Hills Business Association, the 95th Street Business Association, and the PR Store.

Visit Beverly/Morgan Park Juneteenth Family Festival for a complete schedule of the day’s events. Send questions and suggestions tojuneteenthff@gmail.com.