Neighbor’s Day Celebration

The Iowa Juneteenth Observance‘s Neighbor’s Day event in Des Moines will be held at Western Gateway Park, not Evelyn Davis Park, on Saturday, June 21, 2025. The event is scheduled to run from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. 

While previously held at Evelyn Davis Park, Neighbor’s Day has moved to Western Gateway Park for 2025. There will be various activities to enjoy, including performances by the Isiserettes Drill & Drum Corp. This event is part of the larger Iowa Juneteenth Observance, which celebrates the emancipation of enslaved people. The theme for the 35th annual Iowa Juneteenth celebration is “Remembering Our History, Release the Past, Celebrate Our Future”. The Neighbor’s Day event is expected to include live entertainment, a children’s play area with bouncy houses, food, shopping, and more, and is free to attend. Historically, this event at Evelyn Davis Park has included diverse performances like Gospel music, Blues, and R&B, as well as family activities such as basketball games and appearances by entertaining characters like Whistles the Clown. 

The Iowa Juneteenth Observance will also have a Juneteenth Jubilee on June 19th. A Juneteenth Charity Golf Outing is also planned for June 27th.