Richton Park celebrated Juneteenth a few days early Saturday, with food and a mobile game trailer drawing crowds outdoors while inside the band Cuz’n hit the stage and visitors played games, children had face painting and adults circled vendor tables and mingled.
Juneteenth, marking the end of slavery on June 19, 1865, is usually marked by picnics, barbecues and other outdoor summer activities, but was moved indoors due to the threat of rain, said Richton Park organizer Kenneth Jones, the community relations coordinator.
As it happened, the day cleared by mid-afternoon. Still, Jones said he expected about several hundred people for the event, in its fourth year.
Betty Neustadter, a Park Forest resident, said she was enjoying herself, though she said she wished more of the program had been outside. She heard about the event from a friend and decided to stop in.
Neustadter said she was looking forward to the music.
“I’m looking to watch them dance, I’m not going to dance,” she said. “I’m a chair dancer.”
Jones, also the emcee, told the crowd there would be something for everyone at some point.
“We’re all about community participation here,” he said, as organizers lined up chairs for musical chairs.
There was a contest for children, women and men with door prizes for the winners. But even with low stakes, the musical chairs got competitive.
“Keep it classy and professional,” Jones reminded the contestants before the men got up.
The Watermelon Man with Geno’s Melons sold melons. Richard Perez, from Alabama, said he makes a trek through the Midwest multiple times a year with a covered trailer filled with the fruit. He sells yellow watermelons and reds by size: $20, jumbo; $25, too big; and $30, what am I going to do with that.
Perez, 68, said he travels with his sister, who set up a juice stand next to his watermelon display. He said he took over his watermelon farm from his father, Geno, who developed the variety, Geno 720. He brought 300 melons to the Juneteenth event and he said the melon sells itself and he’s generous with samples to bump sales.
“Other folks around here sell sangrias,” he explained. That variety might be popular in the Midwest, but he assures crowds in Richton Park that it’s terrible.
“Hogs don’t eat sangria,” Perez says. Flies, he adds, won’t touch them.
Tess Bradford said she likes Richton Park’s Juneteenth event because it brings the whole community together. On a day when communities across the United States were holding anti-Trump “No Kings” protests — protests she said she supports — Bradford said it’s nice to be part of something positive that just brings everyone together.
“I think it’s important to work together,” she said. “I think it’s important to bring the community together.”
She said the Juneteenth celebration is one of liberation and independence, so it should be a positive experience and a reminder that good can come of evil.
“It’s so important to remember that we had to struggle to get here,” Bradford said. “We had to struggle to get where we are.”
Other communities will be celebrating Juneteenth throughout this week.
Calumet City
A Juneteenth Celebration will run from 11 a.m. to dusk on Sunday, June 15, at the Calumet City Public Library, 660 S. Manistee Ave. The event will feature free food from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (while supplies last), a game truck, vendors and a bounce house.
Entertainment will include DJ Terrance Hudson from 11 a.m. to noon; DJ R Ford from noon to 1 p.m.; Chicago Dancing Deevas & Dudes from 2-2:30 p.m.; the 4th Ward Praise Team from 2:30-3 p.m.; DJ J-Dub and DJ Ant Boogie from 3-5 p.m.; and DJ Pharris at 5 p.m.
Flossmoor
The You Matter 2 Juneteenth Parade begins at 10 a.m. Thursday from Western Avenue School, 940 Western Ave., down Flossmoor Road and to Parker Junior High School, 2810 School St.
Glenwood
A special ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday at the Underground Railroad Memorial Park with a keynote speech from ABC 7 reporter Jasmine Minor.
A Juneteenth celebration runs 3:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday at the John H. Blakely Senior Center, 1 N. Rebecca St., Glewnood. It will feature food games, vendors, a DJ, Black Art Expo and a performance by The Jesse White Tumbling Team in the Blakey Center parking lot.
Matteson
The 1911 Initiative 5K Scholarship Run/Walk, Lace Up for Legacy, begins at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Matteson Community Center, 20642 Matteson Ave.
Proceeds support scholarships, mentorships and internships for college-bound students. All fitness levels are welcome. The event will include wellness demonstration, stretch lab consultations and a commemorative race packet. Register for the 5K at www.19115K.org.
Afterward, the South Suburban Soul House Music Outdoor Party will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the village soccer field, featuring Chip-E, DJ Nick-NonStop, DJ V Dub, Shahid Mustaf, DJ George J, We Jam Academy DJs CCA, Jackie Moon & DJ Chill. There will be food vendors onsite. Participants are asked to bring lawn chairs and coolers.
Midlothian
A showing of the movie “Miss Juneteenth” will be from 1-3 p.m. Thursday at the Midlothian Public Library, 14701 Kenton
Ave.
In the movie, a former beauty queen and single mom prepares her rebellious teenage daughter for the Miss Juneteenth pageant. All ages are invited; children under age 8 must be accompanied by a responsible caregiver age 14 or older. Register at midlothianlibrary.org or call 708-535-2027.
Robbins
People are invited to wear cowboy attire for the Juneteenth Roots on the Ground celebration from 2-6 p.m. Thursday at the William Leonard Public Library District, 13820 S. Central Park, Robbins. There will be children’s activities and educational games, free hamburgers and hot dogs, specialty food trucks, DJ line dancing and adult bingo.
Sandridge Nature Center
The Juneteenth Jubilee runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Sand Ridge Nature Center, 15891 Paxton Ave., South Holland, including boat rides, guided walks and other celebrations.
The jubilee event features a dozen performers, community organizations, family fun events, food for free and for purchase, and vendors. Details at fpdcc.com/juneteenth.
South Holland
A vendor fair will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at Veterans Memorial Park, 500 E. 160th Place. It will include art and handmade goods; fashion, beauty and home products; wellness services; community and nonprofit orgraniations; cultural educators; and performers.
Tinley Park
The Tinley Park Public Library, 7851 Timber Drive, will host a Soulful Comfort Food program from 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday with chef Tony Cannon creating flavorful combinations in a cooking demonstration with samples, followed by a discussion on the African American experience. Registration is required.
A Juneteenth Celebration with poetry song is planned for 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Friday at the library. Oba William King will perform West African-style drumming, interactive storytelling, spoken word, and call and response. Registration is required.
