Your guide to Juneteenth in Iowa: 25+ celebrations to explore across the state
Discover Iowa’s Juneteenth celebrations, including performances, history, music, food and more. Share this guide with your family and friends.
We’ve been told that Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when the last enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free — more than two years after the Jan. 1, 1863, Emancipation Proclamation. We’ve been instructed that Union Gen. Gordon Granger arrived with 2,000 Union troops, including U.S. Colored troops, to announce that enslaved people were free.
But that’s not the full story, according to media reports and historians.
The article, “What is Juneteenth,” by the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, expands on the story the media has told about Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day.
“Although there were enslavers who were aware of the implementation of the Emancipation Proclamation, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865, that it was actually enforced with the Union Army,” stated Mary Elliott, curator of American Slavery, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Kelly E. Navies, a museum specialist of oral history, expanded further.
“We know this wasn’t news to these enslaved people. There were channels through which they had heard about the Emancipation Proclamation, but there was nothing that they could do without the Union troops to enforce it,” she stated in the article.
The unfolding of the Juneteenth story — its history of freedom, parades, celebrations, gatherings, teas and more — continues. Learn more about Juneteenth celebrations across Iowa this year. Celebrate freedom.
Juneteenth 2026 events in Iowa
Waterloo
31st Annual Juneteenth Celebration: Unity in the Community
Waterloo Revue: Waterloo Talent Show
Date: June 18
Time: 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
Location: 820 E. Donald St., Gates Park Amphitheater
Speakers, Music & Raffles
Date: June 19
Time: 5 p.m.-9 p.m.
Location: Sullivan Park, E. 4th & Adam St.
Vendors, Raffle, Music, Poetry, Taekwondo & More
Date: June 20
Time: 1 p.m.-8 p.m.
Location: Sullivan Park, E. 4th & Adams St.
DJ, Vendors & Raffle Giveaways
Date: June 21
Time: 2 p.m.-8 p.m.
Location: Sullivan Park E. 4th & Adams St.
African American Historical & Cultural Museum Juneteenth Car Show
All cars and bikes are accepted plus Vendors, Food, Music & Raffles
Date: June 20
Location: 1320 E. 4th St.
Ames
Live entertainment, Food vendors, Arts & Crafts
Date: June 13
Time: 12:30 p.m.- 5 p.m.
Location: Bandshell Park, 6th St. and Duff Ave.
Des Moines
Black Iowa Outdoors Juneteenth Celebration
Hike & Flower Pot Painting
Date: June 13
Time: 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Location: Fort Des Moines Park, 7200 SE 5th St.
Iowa Juneteenth: Iowa Juneteenth Soirée
Date: June 15
Time: 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
Cost: $65 per person
Location: Palms Restaurant, 1905 Ingersoll Ave.
Burns United Methodist Church & Black Methodists for Church Renewal Presents an Evening with the Black Iowa History Films of Howard University Professor Emeritus Steve Berry
Silent Art Auction Fundraiser
Date: June 17
Time: 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
Location: Burns United Methodist Church, 1909 MLK Jr. PKWY
Iowa Juneteenth: Juneteenth Jubilee
Date: June 18
Time: 5 p.m.-9 p.m.
Cost: $50 per person
Location: State Historical Bldg. 600 E. Locust St.
Iowa Juneteenth: Charity Golf Outing
Date: June 19
Time: 9 a.m.-Noon
Cost: $45 per person
Location: Top Golf, 7680 Coachlight Drive, West Des Moines
BW4HL Juneteenth Tea
Rachelle Hunt-Russian, Guest Speaker
Date: June 19
Time: Noon
Location: Grand View University Student Center, 2811 E 14th St.
Sherman Hills District 1st Juneteenth Event
Date: June 19
Time: 1 p.m.-6 p.m.
Location: Sherman Hill Neighborhood
The Bombshelter Comedy Showcase — Juneteenth Edition
Underground Comedy Des Moines
Date: June 19
Location: Beechwood Lounge
New City Poets: 2nd Annual Juneteenth Poetry Jam
Date: June 19
Time: 7 p.m.-10p.m.
Cost $20
Location: XBK Live, 1159 24th St.
Willkie House: Juneteenth: Freedom. Culture. Community.
DJ, Food & more
Date: June 19
Time: 8 p.m. – Midnight
Location: Willkie House, 900 17th St.
Cost $10
Iowa Juneteenth: Neighbors Day Celebration
Entertainment, children’s activities, food vendors & more
Date: June 20
Time: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Location: Downtown, Western Gateway Park, 1000 Grand Ave.
View the website for additional Juneteenth events held later in the year.
UAW Local 450 – Juneteenth and Pride Celebration
DJ, food, family games, performances, raffle and more
Date: June 19
Time: 4 p.m.-9 p.m.
Location: Union Labor Park, 4640 NW Morningstar Dr.
Good Park Juneteenth Celebration
Date: June 19
Time: 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Location: Good Park, 1115 17th St. University Ave.
Davenport
Celebrate Culture Together
New Place! Same Soul! Juneteenth Celebration
Date: June 20
Time: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Downtown Davenport: Second Street, between Brady and Harrison streets
Cedar Rapids
African American Museum of Iowa Juneteenth Festival
Music, performers, vendors, children’s activities & more
Date: June 20
Time: Noon – 6 p.m.
Location: 55 – 12th Ave., SE.
Ottumwa
Ottumwa 5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration
Performances, history, music, dance, food and more
Date: June 20
Time: Noon – 7 p.m.
Location: Central Park, 106 N Court St.
Sioux City
Sioux City NAACP Juneteenth Celebration 2026
Food, music & education
Date: June 19
Time: 5 p.m.- 7p.m.
Location: Sanford Community Center, 1700 Geneva St.
Sioux City, Iowa Black Pride Family Homecoming Weekend
Food, entertainment, cookout, All-white party
Date: June 19 – June 21
Cost: $50
Location: Warrior Hotel, Downtown Sioux City
Iowa City
Black Voices Project with Dream City, Juneteenth Celebration
Music, entertainment, food, speakers, fashion, community resources, financial literacy
Date: June 19
Time: 1 p.m., opening ceremony
Location: Pepperwood Plaza, 947 Highway 6 East
Cedar Falls
Cedar Falls Human Rights Commission, Juneteenth Movie Screening of “Soul” plus Popcorn and games!
Date: June 19
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Overman Park, 316 W3rd Street & Clay Street
This story will be updated.
Want to add a Juneteenth event to this list? Please email the event to dana@blackIowanews.com.
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