Cincinnati Burger Week Celebrates 10 Years July 15-24

The Freedom Center to Host First-Ever Juneteenth Jubilee Festival

The day will feature live music, programming, food trucks and the chance to meet and hear a motivational speech from Cincinnati Bengals tackle Orlando Brown Jr.

May 30, 2024 at 12:27 pm

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Photo: Freedom Center Facebook

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The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is bringing the community together to celebrate freedom for a special Juneteenth festival this year.

Juneteenth, held each year on June 19, is a celebration in African American communities of the end of slavery in the United States, as well as of Black culture, Black resilience and true independence. In honor of the day, the Freedom Center will host its inaugural Juneteenth Jubilee, a one-day festival featuring free museum admission, live music, food trucks, programming, a special Cincinnati Bengals guest and more along Freedom Way.

On June 19, the museum will extend its hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., offering free 15-minute histories of Juneteenth and family activities throughout the day. Juneteenth Jubilee will also feature live music from noon to 6 p.m., and Bengals tackle Orlando Brown Jr., the event’s featured partner, will deliver a motivational speech followed by a photo and autograph session. At 6:30 p.m., the day’s outdoor events will culminate with a walk to the Ohio River, symbolic of the River Jordan and over which thousands of enslaved people crossed into freedom on the Underground Railroad.

The Freedom Center says the Jubilee will be reminiscent of the earliest Juneteenth celebrations, bringing people together around music, food and community.

“Juneteenth is a day of jubilation — for the millions of enslaved people who were finally free and for their ancestors and their brothers and sisters of every color who moved one step closer to the promise of freedom this nation was founded on,” Woodrow Keown Jr., president and COO of the Freedom Center, said in a press release. “We’re inviting the community to join us for this tribute to liberation and celebration of joy.”

The Freedom Center will also host 15 minority- and women-owned businesses in a community market from noon to 6 p.m., and community organizations and advocates supporting health equity, economic empowerment and voter education and engagement will also be present. Food trucks Sweets & Meats BBQ, Texas Joe Tex Mex, Beverly Ann's Cookies and Indigenous Chef will book-end Freedom Way.

Throughout the event, the Freedom Center says there will be a special emphasis on the continuing legacy of Juneteenth and the ongoing journey to freedom for many.

“June 19, 1865, was a pivotal day in our nation’s history, but for African Americans in this country, it was still just the first step in a long, winding road to freedom,” added Keown Jr. “The journey to freedom continues for so many, so it’s important that we remember how many people are still waiting for their Juneteenth. June 19 must be a day that we recommit ourselves to the pursuit of inclusive freedom.”

Juneteenth Jubilee runs 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., followed by the walk to the Ohio River, on Wednesday, June 19 at the Freedom Center at 50 E. Freedom Way in downtown Cincinnati. For more information, visit freedomcenter.org

Slideshow

32 Black-Owned Greater Cincinnati Restaurants You Need to Try ASAP

Pata Roja Taqueria52 E. Court St., DowntownTaqueria Pata Roja got its start in 2019 as a food truck that could typically be found behind Bar Saeso in Pendleton. From there it grew in popularity, becoming known for its authentic street tacos and Mexican dishes. With this success, owner Derrick Braziel decided to put down roots in downtown Cincinnati. In February, Braziel opened Pata Roja in its new brick-and-mortar spot in Court Street Plaza. Pata Roja’s new space is modeled after the iconic taquerias of Mexico City, with colorful tiles and a central focus of the trompo, a meat rotisserie that’s front and center in the kitchen, which will be used to roast pork for the authentic tacos al pastor. On the menu, guests will find a variety of street tacos, including the al pastor and the popular campechano, which combines several meats into one taco, as well as frozen margaritas and fresh salsas.

Nolia Kitchen1405 Clay St., Over-the-RhineBringing New Orleans-style flair and fare to Over-the-Rhine, Nolia offers diners an upscale, yet approachable, experience. The exposed brick and bold floral wallpaper add a bright and airy feeling to the intimate setting, and the menu features delectable Southern-inspired dishes like the River Catfish, served with grits, meunière and crawfish, or the Pork Shank. And while you shouldn’t expect Nolia to play zydeco music or serve hurricane cocktails in novelty cups, the restaurant’s drink menu will truly laissez les bon temps rouler, non?

Sewovi Foods607 Shepherd Drive, LocklandSewovi Foods is a new ghost kitchen (meaning you can only order for carryout or delivery) that specializes in West African dishes, specifically those from the country Togo. Founder Etse Sewovi wanted to use his kitchen to bridge his love of food from his homeland with the opportunity to also aid Togolese farmers who are struggling to sell their produce by connecting them with U.S. buyers. Their produce is featured in Sewovi’s dishes, like the Ademe Dessi (a soup featuring meat or fish with jute leaves), Nugbagba (tomato stew) and the Poisson Frit (locally sourced tilapia marinated, spiced and deep-fried). For dessert, try a the Zowey, a West African treat of spicy peanuts and corn, rolled into a ball and sweetened with date sugar.

Big Jays Place930 Hempstead Drive, FinneytownBig Jays Place in Finneytown offers a menu bursting with flavor from its Caribbean comfort food dishes, like the Soul Food Plate, featuring jerk chicken, macaroni and cheese, collard greens and cilantro rice, or the half-pound Jerk Burrito, which comes with a choice of shrimp, jerk chicken or salmon. But what Big Jays is best known for is its oxtail, which Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives host Guy Fieri got to try on his recent visit there, saying, “If you don’t like oxtail, then come on down here to the oxtail conversion program.”

Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey9039 US-42, UnionBoomtown Biscuits & Whiskey is inspired by the trappings of the American frontier and California's 19th-century gold rush. The restaurant is helmed by chef Christian Gill, who has appeared on several cooking competition shows. At Boomtown, the true delight comes plated. The signature biscuit isn't a run-of-the-mill, thousand-layer, flaked baked good: it's a buttery, soft disk with a close crumb and a browned, lightly bubbled top that no breakfast chain can compete with. Order the Gold Shoes to get this delightful biscuit topped with delicious sawmill, peppercorn, mushroom, Creole or goetta gravy.

Soul Secrets1434 Vine St., Over-the-RhineThis OTR spot doesn’t just offer soul food – their recipes tell the story of owner Candice Holloway’s family. "Our recipes – that's what we bring to the table. They're historic, they're traditional, they are original, they're from scratch, they are made with love,” Holloway told CityBeat. A look at the menu shows entrees that, in a lot of the South, would just be called good ol’ home cooking, like fried chicken, its seasonal (and vegan) chicken pot pie, fried whiting and catfish. On the side, there’s mac and cheese, collard greens, sweet potatoes and cornbread — the kinds of dishes prepared for the family and that you’d hope for when someone offers to “fix you a plate.”

Ollie’s Trolley1607 Central Ave., West EndLocated in a bright yellow and red trolley car, Ollie’s Trolley is a soul food staple in Cincinnati. This little trolley serves a variety of smoked meats, including ribs, turkey tips and pulled pork, plus metts and burgers. They also offer plenty of sides, like collard greens, buttered corn and potato salad. For dessert, get a slice of their lemon pound cake or chess pie, or take a whole pie or cake home to share.

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About The Author

Katherine Barrier

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she oversees the digital and social media strategies, edits web and print content and writes for the dining and arts...