How Milwaukee’s Juneteenth celebration joined forces with Summerfest

The annual Juneteenth celebration — recognized annually on June 19 — commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. It was on that day in 1865 when the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation occurred in Texas.

While it took another 156 years for Juneteenth to become an official federal holiday (in 2021, in case you don’t want to do the math), the celebration has deep roots in Milwaukee. Led by Northcott Neighborhood House, the event is considered one of the oldest and longest-running in the country.
Still, organizers keep finding brand new ways for history to unfold in our city. And this year, for the first time, Milwaukee’s official Juneteenth celebration is teaming up with the World’s Largest Music Festival: Summerfest.

That means things won’t just happen in the Bronzeville neighborhood. After the daytime festivities, the night will continue at the Summerfest grounds with an introduction of the Juneteenth Court and, of course, the music. Artists like The Isley Brothers, Ginuwine, Bow Wow, Milwaukee’s own Eric Benét and local talent are part of a lineup that’s about culture, legacy and unity.

Summerfest and Northcott Neighborhood House will keep the celebration going a few extra days with a new food and culture event. “A Taste of Juneteenth” will be held in the American Family Insurance Amphitheater Founders Club on June 21 from 12:45-2 p.m., inviting ticket holders to sample dishes from a lineup of a dozen local food vendors.

That leaves a lot of ground to cover in this episode, which brings Summerfest CEO Sarah Pancheri and Northcott Neighborhood House executive director Tony Kearney together to talk about this promising new collaboration and what it means for Milwaukee. 

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Episode host: Kim Shine

Uniquely Milwaukee is sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library and supported by our Radio Milwaukee members.