MANSFIELD — Mansfield is gearing up for its biggest celebration of freedom and unity yet as the annual Juneteenth Parade & Festival returns June 13, now hosted at its new location: Mansfield Senior High School, 124 N. Linden Road.
This free, all-day community celebration promises more energy, more entertainment, and more ways to come together in honor of heritage, resilience, and joy.
The day kicks off with a high‑impact parade at 11 a.m. featuring:
- Marching bands from Mansfield Senior, Columbus Linden McKinley, and Columbus South high schools.
- Canton En‑Rich‑Ment Drumline
- Dance teams from across Ohio
- Local churches, businesses, community groups, and political candidates
- And this year’s inspiring Grand Marshal: Brigitte Coles, We ACT Co‑Founder, Richland County Children Services Community Engagement Supervisor, author and former television broadcaster
Parade Route & Parking
- The parade starts at Arlin Field, proceeds down West 4th Street, and ends at Mansfield Senior High School on North Linden Road.
- Attendees may line the entire route to enjoy vibrant floats, marching bands, and entertainers.
- Parking is available at Mid‑Ohio Educational Service Center, 890 W. 4th St.
- A free shuttle will run between the parking area, parade, and festival grounds throughout the day.
Festival opens at noon
Once the parade arrives at the new festival grounds, the celebration expands into a full‑scale community experience featuring:
- Live music and entertainment
- Vendor marketplace
- Food trucks
- Book signings with eight local authors
- Line dancing
- Community choirs
- Health fair
- Family‑friendly activities for all ages
This year’s entertainment lineup includes soulful and high‑energy performances from CONNE, Just Us, and Chasing Dreams.
Community impact at the heart of the celebration
This year’s Juneteenth event highlights key community priorities:
- Health equity
- Voter education & engagement
- Economic empowerment
- Educational advancement
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
The Juneteenth Planning Committee proudly recognizes its Gold Sponsors:
- OhioHealth
- Gary Feagin State Farm Insurance Agent
Additional thanks go to the many churches, businesses, and organizations whose support makes this celebration possible.
History of Juneteenth
On June 19, 1865, about two months after the Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox, Va., Gordon Granger, a Union general, arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved African Americans of their freedom and that the Civil War had ended. Granger’s announcement put into effect the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been issued nearly two and a half years earlier, on Jan. 1, 1863, by President Abraham Lincoln.
The holiday, observed on June 19, is also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, and has been celebrated by communities across the country for more than a century. In 2021, President Joe Biden declared Juneteenth a federal holiday. Juneteenth is the first new federal holiday since 1983, when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was created.
