In a press release Friday morning, Summerfest and Northcott Neighborhood House announced details for the partners’ second Juneteenth celebration, which this year will take place across three days: June 18-20.
During the festival’s opening ceremony at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 18, Northcott’s Juneteenth scholarship pageant will get some time in the spotlight with recognition for the recipients of Miss and Mister Juneteenth (ages 14-18), and Little Miss Juneteenth and Mister Juneteenth Jr. (ages 8-13). The partners also highlighted the BMO Pavilion performers that night, headliner Charlie Wislon at 10 p.m. and opener Danny Boy at 8 p.m.
The following day will see the return of Milwaukee’s Juneteenth Parade along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, with programming planned from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Summerfest will have an admission promotion running from noon to 3 p.m. offering a free ticket to the first 2,500 people who donate three shelf-stable food items at the Mid Gate.
Inside the grounds, attendees will find a mix of national and local artists like Don Toliver with SahBabii, Che, SoFayGo, sosocamo, Chase B and Lelo at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater; The Family Stone at the Aurora Pavilion; and Tyrese, FEE$, Troy Tyler and Emmitt James at the T-Mobile Stage.
Wrapping up the three-day celebration is the return of “A Taste of Juneteenth,” held from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Potawatomi Founder’s Club. The ticketed event will feature sample-size dishes from:
- Atwood Hwy BBQ Company
- Dear Florence Sweets
- Gina’s Creations
- Glad’s Kitchen
- It’s Smackn
- Johnny’s Kitchen Creations
- Kellie Katering
- Monnie’s Kitchen
- Peachy’s Plates
- Pop’s BBQ Memphis Style
- Signature Sweets
“As the host of Milwaukee’s Juneteenth celebration, I want to thank Summerfest for its continued partnership in supporting our area youth, history, culture and community,” Northcott Neighborhood House executive director Tony Kearney said in the release. “As we mark this milestone 55th year of the Juneteenth celebration, we warmly welcome visitors and neighboring communities of all cultures and ethnicities to join Summerfest in honoring freedom, resilience, and the vibrant traditions that make Milwaukee shine as the city of festivals.”
Milwaukee World Festival Inc. president and CEO Sarah Pancheri added, “We are proud to continue our partnership with Northcott Neighborhood House. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to create meaningful local impact through music and community celebrations.”
For more information on the Juneteenth Day Celebration, visit the Summerfest website.
