Scenes From Juneteenth Celebrations In Chicago [PHOTOS]

Chicagoans gathered at dozens of events throughout the weekend to commemorate when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 to free enslaved people.

Maia McDonald and K'Von Jackson

7:10 AM CDT on Jun 20, 2023

The 40+ Double Dutch Club was just one of many performances at Saturday's Beverly/Morgan Park Juneteenth Family Festival.

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CHICAGO — Chicagoans turned out throughout the long weekend to celebrate Juneteenth with barbecues, family festivals, community activism and much more.

Juneteenth, a portmanteau of “June” and “19th,” refers to June 19, 1865. That’s the day federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved people there that slavery had ended — more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

See more photos of how Chicagoans celebrated the holiday:

Fati, lead singer of Patch of Blues, leads her band during Juneteenth celebrations at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center on June 19, 2023. Patch Of Blues is an all-female blues band from Chicago.

Djembe drum lessons were taught throughout the afternoon at the Juneteenth Family Festival on Saturday, June 17, 2023.

Clyde Williams cooks fresh barbecue at the Juneteenth celebration at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center.

Blacks in Green hosted a community BioBlitz at the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley home at 6427 S. St. Lawrence Ave. to celebrate Juneteenth on June 17, 2023.

Jenelle Steven, a painter and crochet artist, works on a piece at the Beverly/Morgan Park Juneteenth Family Festival on June 17, 2023.

Colorful African-patterned clothing hangs on display at the DuSable Museum’s Juneteenth celebrations on June 19, 2023.

Shannon Martin and her dog, Quinn, attended the Beverly/Morgan Park Juneteenth Family Festival on June 17, 2023 with his owner Morgan Park resident Shannon Martin.

Young neighbors play basketball at the Beverly/Morgan Park Juneteenth Family Festival on June 17, 2023.

Attendees line up and wait for a chance to feed different farm animals from the Silver Stallion Ranch at the Bronzeville Juneteenth celebration June 17, 2023.

A dancer turns up at the Beverly/Morgan Park Juneteenth Family Festival.

People shop at the Bronzeville Juneteenth celebration, which showcased a variety of Black-owned vendors and performances from local artists June 17, 2023.

A young attendee gets their hand painted at the Beverly/Morgan Park Juneteenth Family Festival.

A couple dance as reggae artist Ray J performs at the Bronzeville Juneteenth celebration June 17, 2023.

Bookies, a used bookstore based in Beverly and Homewood, sold used books as part of a vendor fair at the Beverly/Morgan Park Juneteenth Family Festival.

Customers line up at the Harold’s Chicken food truck during Juneteenth celebrations at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center.

Children take turns rolling around inside an inflatable bubble soccer ball during the Juneteenth celebration at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center on June 19, 2023.

Performances at the the Bronzeville Juneteenth celebration June 17, 2023.

Jakyra McGee, a West Side resident, begins placing flags down on 1-meter markings during the Blacks in Green Juneteenth BioBlitz to document plant life on June 17, 2023.

The African-American flag attached to a car as people celebrate Juneteenth in Chicago.

Maia McDonald

K'Von Jackson

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