Six-Town Juneteenth Celebration Moved To Simsbury HS: UPDATE

SIMSBURY, CT — A large, multi-town Juneteenth celebration will take place in Simsbury this Saturday, June 14, offering folks a helping of food, fun, and a little bit of education.

However, due to Saturday's rainy forecast, the event was moved Saturday morning to Simsbury High School, 34 Farms Village Road, Simsbury.

The Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center was set to host the 2025 Juneteenth Freedom Celebration from 1 to 5 p.m., but the venue was moved due to the weather.

The celebration is a product of the efforts of five towns in the Farmington Valley region (Avon, Canton, Farmington, Granby, and Simsbury) as well as the Town of Bloomfield.

“Join us as we celebrate food, folks, and fun at the Farmington Valley’s largest Juneteenth celebration, June 14 at Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center,” said the event's planning committee member, Tayarisha Batchelor, director of equity and success with Simsbury Public Schools.

This year’s event is produced by June Archer’s "Eleven 28 Entertainment."

“The bigger and better 2025 Juneteenth celebration highlights the best in Black food, vendors, live music, and the world’s largest LEGO black-brick play zone and Black Panther Photo Zone as we celebrate freedom in America,” Archer said.

This event brings together the best in Black food, brew, and live music.

It will showcase performances by Ru Williams, Hartford’s Proud Drill, Drum and Dance. Corp, Triniti, DJ K-Otic, Derrick M. Roberts, Hue Brown, and The Rahsaan Langley Project.

Kids of all ages can experience the world’s largest LEGO Black Brick Play Zone and full-sized LEGO Black Panther Photo Zone, courtesy of LEGO Systems, Inc.

New this year is Black Retailers Row, where visitors can support locally owned businesses, including Sippin’ Self Care, Yuhanna Scents, and more.

Historian John Mills with the non-profit Alex Breanne Corp. will also be joining the event for the first time, sharing the storied contributions of Black families in the Farmington Valley area.

Admission is free courtesy of sponsors Eversource Energy, Simsbury Main Street Partnership, Lamar Outdoor Advertising, iHeartMedia, Peoples Bank, Eleven 28 Entertainment, Elkinson + Sloves, Inc., Signs Plus Print, The West Indian Foundation, The Archer Foundation, Super Joe Lewis Sound and the towns of Avon, Bloomfield, Canton, Farmington, Granby and Simsbury.

“Our goal is both to educate a wider audience and celebrate together the importance of Juneteenth, the federal holiday commemorating the end of chattel slavery on June 19, 1865,” said Batchelor. “Juneteenth is a great time to gather together and celebrate freedom for all of us.”

In the event of inclement weather, the event venue may change to Simsbury High School. For up-to-date information, including weather-related changes, visit SimsburyMeadows.org.

For more information on the federal Juneteenth holiday, click on this link.

For more information on the 2025 Juneteenth Freedom Celebration in Simsbury, click on this link.