Pride Month
Pride Month is a month-long celebration of LGBTQ+ activism, culture, and the support of LGBTQ+ rights. It started to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan.
Events/Calendar
Juneteenth
Juneteenth is a national holiday commemorating the emancipation of the enslaved African Americans back in 1865.
Events/Calendar
Date: June 19th, 2023.
Juneteenth in Eastern Iowa
Iowa City
A Juneteenth concert and celebration for the entire county will take place in Downtown Iowa City on Friday, June 14, 2024, so mark your calendars for an evening of fun for everyone. All events listed will take place in the Downtown Ped Mall.
Friday night's event will feature a wide assortment of attractions for all ages:
- 4 p.m. - Johnson County Resource Fair and Vendors
- 5 p.m. - Free food by Royceann's Soul Food, while supplies last
- 5 p.m. - Basketball, balloon twisting, face painting, and more.
- 5:30 p.m. - Dream City Performing Arts Academy
- 5:50 p.m. - Spoken Word Performance
- 6:30 p.m. - Blake Shaw and Alyx Rush musical performance, presented by Summer of the Arts
- 7:00 p.m. - Fashion Show presented by Wright House of Fashion, sponsored by GreenState Credit Union
- 8 p.m. - Shining Star Band: A Tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire
The Juneteenth Celebration will be an evening of family-friendly entertainment with various attractions such as the Iowa City Public Library's Bookmobile and The Iowa Children's Museum. Additionally, vendor booths will offer arts, crafts, and merchandise, while informational booths will showcase local nonprofits and service agencies. Feel free to bring a lawn chair or blanket to relax or dance the night away with help from our musical entertainers.
This year's Juneteenth celebration is a collaboration between many community organizations: Johnson County Government, Think Iowa City, the City of Iowa City, Summer of the Arts, Iowa City Pride, Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County, Dream City, the Iowa City Downtown District, the Wright House of Fashion, the Community Foundation of Johnson County, Royceann's Soul Food, and the Black Voices Project.
Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, two-and-a-half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, Union soldiers sailed into Galveston, Texas, and read aloud the order, freeing a quarter of a million slaves who were residing in the state.
Juneteenth events will be held throughout Johnson County around the holiday. Visit icjuneteenth.com to see the many ways you can celebrate!
Resources
Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots
The anniversary of the Stonewall Riots is on June 28th.
The Stonewall Riots occurred on June 28, 1969 after New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich Village in New York City. The raid sparked a riot among bar patrons and neighborhood residents. This led to six days of protests and violent clashes with law enforcement. A year later, to mark the anniversary of the riots, the first gay pride marches occurred. The Stonewall Riots helped transform the Gay Rights Movement in the United States.
Journey to Unity Newsletter
Sign up for the latest news, programs, and resources from the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.