A guide to 2025 Juneteenth celebrations in Greater Lansing

MSU Juneteenth Commemorative Celebration

With the theme “A Juneteenth Renaissance: Bridging Freedom’s Legacy and Tomorrow’s Vision,” MSU’s fifth annual Juneteenth Commemorative Celebration, running from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 12, at the new Multicultural Center, aims to honor the contributions of Black artists, scientists and advocates, both historic and contemporary.

Emceed by educator, violinist and pianist Rodney Page, the event will feature a performance of the Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” by rising MSU senior Maliah Cook; stories on Juneteenth, Idlewild and Black Wall Street by the Detroit Association of Black Storytellers; gospel music by Gregory D and Company, line dancing with Dancing with the Nordés; and a vendor fair with more than 40 local, Black-owned businesses. Remarks will be given by MSU Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Jabbar R. Bennett, graduate school Dean Pero G. Dagbovie and Juneteenth Planning Committee Co-Chairs Amanda Flores and Marquis Taylor.

A buffet will offer chicken wings, jollof rice, Southern-style green beans and cabbage, jackfruit sliders, chopped brisket, cheesecake bites and strawberry-flavored popcorn. Beverages, including lemonade and berry drinks, will also be served.

Interested attendees are encouraged to RSVP for the free event at inclusion.msu.edu.

Courtesy Meridian Township Attendees pose for a photo at Meridian Township’s 2023 Juneteenth celebration at Lake Lansing Park South.

Lansing Juneteenth Celebration

By far the longest-running Juneteenth event in the area, the Lansing Juneteenth Celebration will offer expanded programming in its 32nd year.

The festivities will begin with a 5K run/walk/roll at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, June 14, at Benjamin Davis Park. At noon, the park will host a competitive Negro league baseball tribute game, with an opportunity to purchase food, drinks, art and other wares from vendors.

The annual kickoff ceremony begins at 6 p.m. June 18 at Lansing Community College’s Gannon Building, featuring a keynote speech by state Sen. Sarah Anthony. The event will also include an awards program for the Eugene and Maxine Hankins Cain essay and scholarship contest, with remarks by the Cains and previous essay contest winner Faith Sams.

At 4 p.m. June 19, the community is invited to attend a Juneteenth flag raising at City Hall. The time was changed from 11 a.m. due to inclement weather.

The celebration wraps up with the Freedom Festival June 20 and 21 at St. Joseph Park. Friday’s entertainment includes vendors, music, dancing and a teen talent show from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday morning brings the African American parade at 11 a.m., traveling from Sexton High School to St. Joe Park. The day continues with a job and community resource fair, a health fair, a car show, line dancing, kids’ activities, vendors and main stage entertainment, including performances by gospel musician Anthony Taylor, R&B musician Ty Causey and jazz quintet Straight Ahead.

For full details on each of  these events, go to  https://www.lansingjuneteenthcelebration.org/.

Delta Township Juneteenth celebration

Delta Township’s Juneteenth event, taking place Tuesday, June 17, at Mount Hope Park, will kick off with a history walk at 5 p.m., which will take participants along a 2-mile path lined with displays tracing the journey from the Emancipation Proclamation to Juneteenth. The displays aim to offer “deeper insights into the delays, resilience and enduring pursuit of freedom and justice.”

The community picnic and concert begins at 5:30 p.m., featuring music by smooth-jazz artist Phil Denny, sister gospel trio Rhe L’ve and DJ Big Man Genesis of Power 96.5 FM on the main stage. On the second stage, the Lansing alumni chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority will perform a stroll, or synchronized dance; local author Shanell Henry will read from her children’s book, “Be the Bright Spot”; and youth poets will share some of their work.

A shuttle will be available from CATA’s Saginaw/Canal bus stop to the park. For more information about the event, visit deltami.gov/residents/events/juneteenth.php.

‘Black Rock 201’ at Wainwright Park

The day prior to Juneteenth (Wednesday, June 18), the Black Rock Sextet, a supergroup of local musicians, will bring its “Black Rock 201” show to Lansing’s Concerts in the Park series at 7 p.m. Building on its predecessor, “Black Rock 101,” this show features even more iconic rock ‘n’ roll music that was written or performed by Black musicians, aiming to provide a more extensive overview of the contributions such musicians have made to the genre.

517 Juneteenth Weekend

The Ourspace Foundation’s fifth annual Juneteenth Weekend, taking place in REO Town, aims to celebrate Black culture, legacy and community with four days of entertainment, education and empowerment.

The weekend will open with a seminar titled “Pathways to Wholeness” at 6:30 p.m. June 19 at the Cadillac Room. A panel of Michigan-based leaders — Ruth Nicole Brown, chair of Michigan State University’s Department of African American and African Studies; LeConté Dill, an associate professor of African American and African studies at MSU; Dwayne Powell Jr., a managing partner at Kalamazoo Forward Ventures; Dr. LaKeeya Tucker, an OB/GYN and former chief of medical staff at E.W. Sparrow Hospital; and Kwesi Brookins, vice provost for the Office of University Outreach and Engagement at MSU — will give advice for achieving wellness mentally, physically, socally, environmentally, financially and occupationally. The seminar will be followed by a mixer featuring music by DJ Kaels and complimentary refreshments. Admission is free, but an RSVP is required at 517juneteenth.com.

A free ice cream social, running from 5:30 to 8 p.m. June 20 in Riverview Church’s parking lot, will offer frozen treats, health screenings, yoga, herb and plant potting, science experiments with Impression 5, dance lessons with Rock the Block Studio and All of the Above Hip Hop Academy, youth vendors, inflatables and music.

The weekend’s biggest event, the free 517 Juneteenth Festival, will transform the streets of REO town into a cultural hub from 3:30 to 10:30 p.m. June 21. The main stage will feature performances by R&B artist BJ the Chicago Kid, hip-hop and soul artist (and Ourspace Foundation director) MikeyyAustin, contemporary Christian artist Kira Daffin and more, while DJs Sheefy McFly and Venus FlyyTrap will provide the music for an evening dance party. More than 90 Black-owned vendors, food trucks and dessert booths will line Elm Street, and a Campari cocktail trailer will offer craft beverages. Younger attendees can enjoy inflatables, games, education activities and more in a Kidz Zone run by Little Dreamers Learning Center.

Capping the weekend is a jazz concert at 6:30 p.m. June 22, featuring a performance by Kevin Brewster & Black Renaissance as well as curated DJ sets and a program highlighting the influence of Black music, including jazz, on global culture. Light refreshments will be provided. Admission is free, but an RSVP is required.

Meridian Township Juneteenth celebration

Meridian Township will celebrate Juneteenth from 3 to 7 p.m. June 20 at the Marketplace on the Green Pavilion with performances by Haslett funk/pop/R&B/soul artist Tony Thompson and friends, Grand Rapids’ Seben African Dance and Lansing party band Global Village, plus yard games, small-business vendors and more. Planning is still underway, but updates can be found at meridian.mi.us/about-us/calendar/meridian-freedom-fest.

Juneteenth celebration at the East Lansing Farmers Market

On June 22, the East Lansing Farmers Market will offer special activities in honor of Juneteenth, including a jazz-themed craft and a performance by cultural and religious dance troupe Worship Without Words. The market is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.