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Nine days of the Juneteenth Festival in Chattanooga

Chattanooga Festivals of Black Arts & Ideas is back with a full month of programming to commemorate and celebrate during its Juneteenth Festival.

June 5, 2024 • 
Haley Bartlett
Families outside on a lawn celebrating Juneteenth and a family smiling at the camera.

Honor the federal holiday for more than just one day in the month of June.

Photo provided by Chattanooga Festivals of Black Arts & Ideas

In honor of Juneteenth, the historic marking of the abolition of slavery in the US, Chattanooga Festivals of Black Arts & Ideas will host its 7th annual Juneteenth Festival.

The festival will feature various events that hold “space for reflection, celebration, and cultural enrichment, amplifying narratives of the Black experience.” Here is the full lineup:

Thursday, June 6
“Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photography” | 6 p.m. | CHI Memorial Hospital | Donation | See this exhibition featuring works from CreativeSoul Photography.

A visual arts photo of a young Black girl in a traditional headdress and outfit

CreativeSoul Photography was the 2024 winner of NAACP’s Image Award.

Photo provided by Chattanooga Festivals of Black Arts & Ideas

Saturday, June 8
Art CHATT | 6-9 p.m. | Stove Works | Free | This show will feature themes of “Black Joy” expressed through visuals and dances from the Juba Dance Ensemble.

Friday, June 14
Juba Dance Ensemble | 7 p.m. | Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts | $0-$25 | Experience a showcase of dance from traditional African rhythms to contemporary hip-hop beats.

Saturday, June 15
Juneteenth Freedom Run + Walk | 8 a.m. | River Park | $35-$70 | Honor Opal Lee’s advocacy for the federal holiday with a 5K, 10K, half-marathon + one-mile walk.

Participants in the annual Juneteenth Freedom Walk + Run running under the start/finish line.

Opal Lee walked from Fort Worth, TX to Washington, D.C. at the age of 89 to advocate for Juneteenth to become federally recognized.

Photo provided by Chattanooga Festivals of Black Arts & Ideas

Sunday, June 16
Father’s Day Brunch + Concert | 12:30 p.m. | Waterhouse Pavilion | $0-$50 | Enjoy a meal catered by Davis Wayne’s and a concert at 2 p.m. with Nashville-based B. Harvey and Team — the concert is free + open to the public.

Wednesday, June 19
Juneteenth Commemoration Ceremony | 6-7:30 p.m. | Walker Theater | Free, RSVP | Hear the stylings of the Inversion Vocal Ensemble directed by four-time Emmy-nominated composer Dave Ragland.

Thursday, June 20 + Friday, June 21
Oscar Micheaux Black Film Festival | 6 p.m. | Location TBD | Donation | Watch a screening of “How to Sue the Klan” by local filmmaker John Beder + learn about the legacy of the Chattanooga Five.

Saturday, June 22
Scratching Your Roots | 12 p.m. | Chattanooga Public Library | Free | Those of African decent can join the Black Genealogy Society to discover where their ancestors were from.

Legacy Music Festival | 12 p.m. | Miller Park | Free | Bring the family to play lawn games, enjoy a DJ + watch headliner Kim Thomas take the stage at 8 p.m.

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