DEI Upcoming Events: June 2026
June 1 Lighting of the bridges in Green Bay to celebrate Juneteenth and Pride month. The Main and Walnut Street bridge lights will be all the colors of the rainbow for the month of June.
June 13 Parade and Celebration The 7th Annual Juneteenth Celebration parade in Green Bay will take place on Saturday, June 13, 2026. Time: The parade begins at 11:30 AM, with line-ups starting at 10:30 AM. The parade kicks off at We All Rise: African American Resource Center (on Chicago Street). Route & End Location: The procession travels to Joannes Park, located at 215 S. Baird Street, where a larger community celebration will continue afterward.
The 2026 Green Bay Juneteenth theme—From Freedom to Flourishing—honors the journey from emancipation to empowerment. It’s a celebration of Black legacy, love, and liberation, while also a call to invest in a future where Black excellence thrives. Together, we’re building not just an event, but a vision of what’s possible when community, culture, and commitment meet.
For more information, contact We All Rise at https://www.weallriseaarc.org/juneteenth
About Juneteenth
Juneteenth (a portmanteau of "June" and "nineteenth") is a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. It marks the day in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that enslaved people were free—over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
History of Juneteenth
Delayed Freedom: President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, but it was largely unenforceable in Confederate-controlled areas like Texas.
General Order No. 3: On June 19, 1865, Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger landed in Galveston and read General Order No. 3, finally enforcing the emancipation of over 250,000 enslaved Black Texans.
Federal Recognition: While long celebrated in Black communities as America's "second Independence Day," it was officially signed into a U.S. federal holiday on June 17, 2021
Traditions & Celebrations
Cookouts and Gatherings: Celebrations traditionally include community cookouts, family reunions, and historical readings.
Red Foods: Eating red foods and beverages (e.g., hibiscus tea, red velvet cake, and strawberry soda) is a deeply rooted tradition that honors the resilience and bloodshed of enslaved ancestors
You can explore more about the holiday's legacy at the National Museum of African American History and Culture or find local events and community resources through the National Park Service.
June 20 Parade and Celebration The first annual Green Bay Pride celebration will take place in downtown Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Saturday, June 20, 2026. The family-friendly event is scheduled from 1:00 PM to 8:30 PM, featuring live entertainment, food trucks, and local vendors. Volunteers are needed to help during the celebration. Volunteers will assist with a variety of activities, including setup, wayfinding, vendor support, and cleanup. For more information, see the Green Bay Pride Facebook page.
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