In partnership with Evanston Present and Future, the City of Evanston will honor Juneteenth with a parade and commemoration on Saturday, June 18.

Juneteenth, also referred to as Emancipation Day, Juneteenth Independence Day, or Freedom Day, commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. and is observed every year on June 19. At the City Council meeting on Monday night, Mayor Daniel Biss will make a proclamation recognizing Sunday, June 19 as “Juneteenth” in the City of Evanston.

Parade, 10 a.m.

The Juneteenth celebrations will begin at 10 a.m. as Evanston Present and Future presents the annual Juneteenth Parade, beginning in the parking lot of the Robert Crown Community Center, located at 1801 Main St., and ending at Ingraham Park, located behind the Morton Civic Center. View the parade route at kemonehendricks.com.

Parking will not be available in the Robert Crown parking lot from 6 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on June 18 due to parade staging.

Celebration, noon to 6 p.m.

Following the parade, community members are invited to join in for an afternoon of art, music, food and community at Ingraham Park, located just west of the Morton Civic Center, beginning at noon. Food vendors will include Hecky’s Barbecue, C&W Market & Ice Cream Parlor, Happy Taco, CELLEBRATE-RealFoodForLife, Cookies with Flavor and Firehouse Grill.