What Not to Miss: MetroHealth Cleveland Juneteenth Freedom Fest
Spend your Juneteenth celebrating Black Heritage in Cleveland
Since its inception, the MetroHealth Cleveland Juneteenth Freedom Fest has consistently drawn over 10,000 attendees. Visitors have enjoyed performances by 100 artists, musicians, and entertainers. Now an annual event in Cleveland, its roots trace back to June 19, 1865, when the Civil War ended, and the freedom of enslaved people was celebrated across the United States. This "second Independence Day" was brought to Cleveland in 2020, following public protests and the city’s recognition of racism as a public health crisis.
Friday, June 14
Morning: Stop at Cleveland Cultural Gardens and visit the African American Cultural Garden. Early visitors can peacefully walk through the Door of No Return and reflect on architecture structured to remind us of the past, present, and future of Black people in this country.
Lunch: Grab a bite to eat at Pipe N’ Hot Grill in GlenVillage. Choose from delectable dishes that include scampi, orange roughy or tilapia served with the option of sides of fries, slaw and bread. Don’t forget to try the Bamba Iced Tea!
Afternoon: Celebrate Juneteenth at the beautiful Green Movement Glenville garden starting at 1 p.m. (11401 East 114th Street, at the corner of St. Clair and East 115th Street.) The Cleveland Association of Black Storytellers will begin the festivities with stories, followed by art, games, a book giveaway, and more.
Dinner: Get Downtown for dinner at Zanzibar Soul Fusion, where they're serving Black American comfort food like chicken-and-waffles and unique twists on the classics, such as artichoke dip with collard greens and the “Soul Roll” (stuffed egg rolls with spicy remoulade). After your meal, you're a short walk from all sorts of nightlife options on E. 4th Street and Playhouse Square.
Evening: "An evening of Community, Reflection, Remembrance and Celebration.” You can attend Juneteenth Night of Unity Hosted by Cleveland Public Theatre. Doors Open at 7:00 p.m. The performance begins at 8:00 p.m. Enjoy food, live music, community and more.
Late Night: GoodTime III City Lights Cruise. Enjoy an incredible night of dancing under the stars on the largest 4-deck cruise ship in Cleveland. From 10:00 pm to 12:00 am (boards at 9:30) there will be live entertainment on board. Bar service is available at four beverage bars, and a variety of snacks and sandwiches are available in the ship’s galley.
Saturday, June 15
Breakfast: Head over to Home Of The Chicken & Steak Potato, CMB SoulFood for breakfast sandwiches or some home-style cooking with grits and waffles. If you’re looking for something more hearty, try their loaded fries options, stuffed potatoes or rice bowls.
Morning: After breakfast, you can drop by the BOXSPOT, an innovative project that features a collection of repurposed shipping containers thoughtfully arranged for you to check out vendors showcasing their products and services.
Lunch: Everyone needs some good fried food on a day out, especially on a holiday. Like the name suggests, The Crispy Chick on Woodland Avenue serves chicken with recipes free of MSG and other additives, and sauces based on original recipes.
Afternoon: Before you head downtown, take a stroll through Luke Easter Park, a cherished greenspace. The park is named after Luke Easter, a prominent African American baseball player who played for the (now) Cleveland Guardians in the 1950s.
Dinner: Make Soul Food Row your first stop at Metrohealth Cleveland Juneteenth Freedom Fest and your dinner table by purchasing from local Black businesses. Find your new favorite dish at the festival’s best place for eats.
Evening: Visit the Vendor Village full of Black-owned businesses and pop-ups selling their creations and services. Check out the festival’s Main Act, featuring a performance by Karamu House.
Late Night: Check out the Kam Patterson stand up comedy show at Hilarities 4th Street Theatre from 10 p.m.-11:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 16
Brunch: If you’re making a weekend out of the holiday—which you should, wake up for brunch at The Roaming Biscuit on 1418 West 29th Street. Shawnda Moye’s passion for baking started in her childhood. She started The Roaming Biscuit as a pop-up business. She asks you to join them as they create a warm and welcoming space where delicious biscuits and a strong community spirit come together.
Afternoon: Stop and stay for a while at the Mx. Juneteenth: A Black & Queer Liberation Celebration at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Mx. Juneteenth is a community event for and by Black Queer folx to commemorate Juneteenth, a holiday for reverence, remembrance, and celebration. Through intentional planning and organizing, Mx. Juneteenth will capture the spirit of the Juneteenth holiday by creating a liberatory space that centers on radical politics, community care, and expressive joy.
You can also come down to the Baseball Heritage Museum and have a catch with your own All-Star on Cleveland's Historic League Park for Father’s Day. Donuts and juice will be served. Gloves and balls available if needed or bring your own. Dads and kids under 9 are free.
Dinner: Just like its sign outfront, you’ll be licking your lips after eating at Muncheez on Buckeye Rd. With comfort food made from scratch, customers know they’re in for that good good. Try the Chicken and Steak Dirty Fries or their Crispy Wing Dings.
Evening: There’s also more to do at the 15th Annual Juneteenth African Dance & Drum Festival hosted by Djapo Cultural Arts Institute. Visit The Pivot Center for Art, Dance and Expression. Evening panel discussions moderated by Dr. Katrina Hazzard-Donald includes topics about Haitian and Guinea dance.
