June 4, 2025 – The African-American Cultural and Genealogical Society of Illinois will hold its 31st Annual Juneteenth National Freedom Day Celebration on June 20th and 21st in downtown Decatur.
Festivities begin Friday, June 20th with the National Freedom Day Gala at 6 p.m. at the Decatur Club, 158 W. Prairie Ave. The featured speaker will be Ms. Melverta Wilkins, President of the Metro Decatur Black Chamber of Commerce and CEO of Sista Girls & Friends, Inc.
The celebration continues Saturday, June 21st, starting at 12 p.m. with the Emancipation Parade led by Grand Marshal, Decatur City Councilwoman Consuelo Cruz, and the Ferguson Missouri Black Cowboys.
Saturday’s lineup includes speakers Dr. Dana Ray, Mr. Edwin Robinson, and Rev. Robert Collier, with poetry performances by Joshua Graff and Sharity Smith of Springfield, Illinois.
The event will feature food, entertainment, educational resources, giveaways, a Kid’s Corner, a chess competition, and community services.
