Festival 2023

Juneteenth Family Festival: June 15th, 2024
110th & Longwood | Chicago IL
11am-7pm

Festival 2023: “Fit & Fun!”

Dear Beverly & Morgan Park Communities,

The 4^th Annual Beverly/Morgan Park Juneteenth Family Festival was a wonderful success in the community on Saturday, June 17^th. It was a beautiful day and we had our largest attendance to date, estimating over 4,000 people from our neighborhoods and beyond!

It was a delight to see the festival attendees, young, old, Black, White, male, females, all coming together. Whether they were young or old we had something for everyone. Whether it was local Chicago artist Simone Green and the smooth sounds of R&B and Jazz that she serenaded us with or the performance of the Chicago Bulls Bucket Boys or the vibrant African dance, drumming and stilt walking of Moya, there was something for everyone. I saw everyone from 2-year olds to 80-year olds dancing. It was incredible to see, as we closed out the festival dozens of people line dancing together. Jenelle Steven, an up and coming 21-year-old visual artist, did an incredible live painting during the festival.

We had a great opportunity to showcase the festival to elected and appointed officials who stopped by the festival. Some of these officials included: Interim Superintendent for the City of Chicago, Fred Waller, Congressman Jonathan Jackson, Congressman Sean Casten and State Representative Mary Gill.

Without our sponsors, the festival would not have been possible, some of these included: The Department of Cultural Affairs, CBS2 Chicago, Blue Door Neighborhood Center. As well, as our lifetime level sponsors who have supported us from the beginning including: Morgan Park Presbyterian Church, Morgan Park United Methodist Church, Mirjam Quinn & Associates, All Day Montessori, Bookies who was also on-site selling books, Irsenia Norfleet DDS PC and Southtown Health Foods. We are also thankful for our community partners including: our alderman, Matt O’Shea and the 19^th Ward Youth & Community Foundation, BAPA, Little Hoppers Café LLC, Chicago Wolves, Morgan Park Beverly Hills Business Association, Blazin’ Bodies and Superior Ambulance. We are also thankful to Commander Joyce and the 22^nd Police District who was on hand to support us.

We are thankful for all of the hardworking volunteers who gave up their time to make the Beverly/Morgan Park Juneteenth Family Festival a great success. I am especially thankful for an amazing team of Black women who planned this festival alongside myself all year to make it what it was.

Thank you to everyone that attended, performed, sponsored, donated vended, and volunteered in any way. We hope to see you for Festival 2024!

Sincerely,

Shanya Gray, Lead Event Organizer