517 Juneteenth Festival & Block Party

Photo by Kendall D. Lartigue

The annual 517 Juneteenth Festival offers a full day of live music, food, shopping and community in the heart of REO Town. This year’s performers include Jamila Woods, MikeyyAustin, JMT, Kaels, Al Bettis, Christian Sykes and The Lansing Collective Worship Encounter. More than 100 vendors will be in attendance, from fashion and art to wellness and culture. There will also be a food court, a kids’ zone and a lounge where attendees can relax and cool off, sponsored by MSUFCU. The Juneteenth CATA bus will be there, too, another way to cool off.

The festival is one of many Juneteenth events going on this weekend; here are a few others:

• The Dr. Clyde D. Carnegie essay/scholarship & art competition program
  • 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 18
  • Michigan Library and Historical Center
  • 702 W. Kalamazoo St., Lansing

• Healthy People Creating Healthy Communities seminar & mixer
  • 6 p.m. Thursday, June 18
  • The Cadillac Room
  • 1115 S. Washington Ave., Lansing

• Juneteenth Flag Day
  • 11 a.m. Friday, June 19
  • Lansing City Hall plaza flagpole
  • 124 W. Michigan Ave., Lansing

• Juneteenth Ice Cream Social
  • 4:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, June 19
  • Riverview Church parking lot
  • 1115 S. Washington Ave., Lansing

• Juneteenth Freedom Festival 
  • 4-8:30 p.m. Friday, June 19
  • 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Saturday, June 20
  • St. Joseph Park
  • 2125 W. Hillsdale St., Lansing

• Father’s Day jazz night
  • 6-8 p.m. Sunday, June 21
  • The Cadillac Room