The 54th Annual Traditional Flint Juneteenth Celebration kicks off May 31, 2026, and runs through June 28, 2026! The schedule of events is as follows:
Saints & Spirits | Sunday, May 31, 2026, from 4 – 6 p.m.
Location: Metropolitan Church – 930 E Myrtle Ave. Flint, MI
Purpose: The Black church has long served as a “hallowed ground” for both spiritual nourishment and civic mobilization. Because it acts as a sanctuary, a schoolhouse, and a town hall simultaneously, it provides a unique atmosphere where education and entertainment can blend seamlessly—a concept often called “edutainment.”
Sponsored by Metropolitan Church.
Mott Foundation Centennial Family Fun Day | Friday, June 5, 2026, from 5 – 8 p.m.
Location: Flint Cultural Center Campus – 1310 E Kearsley St, Flint, MI 48503
Purpose: The celebration kicks off Friday, June 5, from 5 to 8 p.m., with free admission to the Flint Institute of Arts, Sloan Museum of Discovery and Longway Planetarium. Local food trucks and cafes on campus will offer food for purchase, and live performances will take the stage outside the Flint Institute of Arts from 6 – 8 p.m. — a perfect way to ease into the weekend.
Sponsored by Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
A Day At The Lake (Weekend One) | Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Bethesda Temple Church – 947 Leland St, Flint, MI
Purpose: A fantastic way to bridge the gap between outdoor recreation and character building. “A Day At The Lake” provides a perfect “hook” to get youth engaged while teaching them the patience and precision that fishing and life require.
Sponsored by Men’s Community Action Resources (MCAR)
Mott Foundation Centennial Family Fun Day | Saturday, June 6, 2026, from Noon – 6 p.m.
Location: Flint Cultural Center Campus – 1310 E Kearsley St, Flint, MI 48503
Purpose: Saturday, June 6, is the main event, with activities running from 12-6 p.m. across the campus. Free community lunch from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. (while supplies last). Campus-wide scavenger hunt with big prizes. Gaming truck and bounce house, live music and entertainment, and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament at Flint Cultural Center Academy, with play beginning at 9 a.m. (registration required; priority given to Flint residents). Fun activities hosted by the Flint Institute of Arts, Flint Institute of Music, Gloria Coles Flint Public Library, Sloan Museum of Discovery and Longway Planetarium. Tours of the historic Applewood Estate (11 a.m.-5 p.m.).
Sponsored by Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
Mott Foundation Centennial Family Fun Day | Sunday, June 7, 2026, at 9 a.m.
Location: Flint Cultural Center Campus – 1310 E Kearsley St, Flint, MI 48503
Purpose: The 3-on-3 basketball tournament is hosted in partnership with Moneyball Sportswear and is open to male and female players ages 11-18, with four age divisions: 11-12, 13-14, 15-16 and 17-18. Registration is free, and every participant will receive a reversible jersey. Championship finals begin at 9 a.m. on Sunday, June 7.
Sponsored by Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
Historical War Stories | Sunday, June 7, 2026, from 6 – 9 p.m.
Location: The New McCree Theater – 4601 Clio Rd, Flint, MI
Purpose: This is a powerful and often overlooked chapter of American history. Focusing on the United States Colored Troops (USCT), specifically their role as elite assault troops and the first to liberate Richmond. It transforms a history lesson into a story of agency, valor, and spiritual resolve.
Sponsored by Gospel Army Black History Group
Legacy & Literacy | Tuesday, June 9, 2026, from 6 – 8 p.m.
Location: Hasselbring Senior Center – 2111 Flushing Rd. Flint, MI (Lower level)
Purpose: A beautiful example of the “bridge” you’ve built between the elders—our living libraries—and the youth. By combining the “twist of literacy” with community engagement and live music, we are creating a multisensory history lesson that honors the roots of Flint while planting seeds for its future.
Sponsored by Hasselbring Senior Center
Juneteenth Reparations Interactive Workshop | Thursday, June 11, 2026, from 2 – 4 p.m.
Location: Oak Business Center – 2712 N. Saginaw St, Flint, MI
Purpose: A profound shift in how community organizing approaches the concept of reparations and economic justice. By centering the work within a faith-based framework, they move the conversation from a purely political or legal debate to a moral imperative, effectively “repairing the breach” (Isaiah 58:12) that has existed for generations.
Sponsored by The Justice League
Ujamaa Market | Friday, June 12, 2026, from 4 – 7 p.m.
Location: North Flint Food Market – 5402 N. Clio Rd, Flint, MI
Purpose: The opening of the North Flint Food Market is a landmark achievement in community-led urban renewal. By moving from a “food desert” to “food sovereignty,” the community isn’t just buying groceries; it’s investing in a local ecosystem where the capital circulates within the neighborhood.
Sponsored by The North Flint Food Market
Harambee Breakfast | Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (noon)
Location: Higher Quality of Life Ministries Vision Center – 5601 N. Saginaw St, Flint, MI
Purpose: The Harambee Breakfast is the perfect culmination of the themes you’ve laid out—blending the historical weight of Juneteenth with the communal spirit of “pulling together” (the literal meaning of the Swahili word Harambee).
Sponsored by Higher Quality of Life Ministries Vision Center
A Day At The Lake (Weekend Two) | Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Camp A.R.T.I.S @ Shay Lake – 4574 Gifford Dr, Silverwood, MI
Purpose: The transition from the classroom training at Bethesda Temple to the shores of Shay Lake at Camp A.R.T.I.S. is where the theory of “A Day at the Lake” meets reality. The “generation-to-generation” interaction is the secret sauce of this event; it transforms a simple outdoor activity into a powerful transfer of cultural and communal wisdom.
Sponsored by Men’s Community Action Resources (MCAR)
Juneteenth Kickoff | Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 12 – 5 p.m.
Location: Iroquois Park – 610 W. Taylor St. Flint, MI
Purpose: Juneteenth festivities are a powerful move toward true community cohesion. This partnership embodies the “Harambee” spirit you’ve championed, bringing different organizational strengths together to ensure the “villagers” have everything they need to thrive, from food to cultural enrichment.
Sponsored by The GenWEL United
Celebration in the Village | Sunday, June 14, 2026, from 2 – 6 p.m.
Location: Urban Renaissance Center, 2505 N. Chevrolet Flint, MI 48504
Purpose: The introduction of Ubuntu, “I am because we are,” at the URC (Urban Renaissance Center) provides the perfect philosophical “anchor” for your Juneteenth celebration. This Southern African concept is the spiritual sibling to the Harambee spirit; while Harambee is the act of pulling together, Ubuntu is the reason why we do it.
Sponsored by Urban Renaissance Center
Freedom School Youth Dinner | Tuesday, June 16, 2026, from 6 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Sloan Museum of Discovery – 1221 E. Kearsley St, Flint, MI
Purpose: Linking the Soweto Uprising of June 16, 1976, to the “Children’s Brigade” of the American Civil Rights Movement creates a profound global bridge. It reminds us that Juneteenth is not just a localized American date, but a part of a worldwide struggle for Black liberation.
Sponsored by The Traditional Flint Juneteenth Celebration Committee
Financial Literacy Justice | Wednesday, June 17, 2026, from 4 – 7 p.m.
Location: Flushing Professional Suites (G-3163 Flushing Rd, Flint, MI)
Purpose: By providing this level of professional expertise, you are essentially creating a “Small Business Command Center” within your community. This segment of the program shifts the focus from economic survival to legacy building, aligning perfectly with the North Flint Food Market’s “We Own It” mission and the Justice League’s restorative work. Financial literacy workshops with businesses, vendors and entrepreneurs.
Sponsored by Renewal Under Growth
Freedom to Thrive: Advancing Equity Through an Intergenerational Community Voice | Thursday, June 18, 2026, from 2 – 4 p.m.
Theme: “Our Voices Matter”
Location: Zoom: https://bit.ly/Traditional_Juneteenth
Meeting ID: 896 1403 6362
Password: 729169
Sponsored by Community-Based Public Health Caucus
Juneteenth Celebration | Friday, June 19, 2026, from 12 – 5 p.m.
Location 1st Half: Max Brandon Park (3606 Dupont St, Flint, MI)
Parade Line Up 5 p.m. (From Max Brandon Park)
Purpose: Max Brandon Park is the perfect stage for the “flagship” celebration. As a sprawling green space in the heart of the community, it allows for the “Village” to expand to its fullest potential. This day acts as the physical manifestation of Ubuntu, where every activity, from the bounce houses to the classic car parade, contributes to the collective joy and remembrance of the 54th Annual Traditional Juneteenth Celebration
Sponsored by The Traditional Flint Juneteenth Celebration Committee
Afrobeats Party | Friday, June 19, 2026, from 6 – 8 p.m.
Location 2nd Half: University of Michigan Community Park (Lawn on 5th & James B. Cole Blvd. behind the William S. White building, Flint, MI)
Purpose: Bringing the 54th Annual Traditional Juneteenth Celebration to its grand finale at the University of Michigan Community Park creates a powerful symbolic bridge between the community and one of the region’s major institutions. Ending the day with an Afrobeats Party is a masterful way to connect the historical struggle for freedom to the modern, global sound of the African Diaspora, bringing the journey of the “villagers” full circle.
Sponsored by The Traditional Flint Juneteenth Celebration Committee
Juneteenth @ Cultural Center Celebration | Saturday, June 20, 2026, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Sloan Museum/Longway Planetarium (1221 E. Kearsley St, Flint, MI)
Purpose: The partnership with the Flint Cultural Center marks a critical expansion of the “Village.” By bringing “Blackness” into these historically significant institutions—the FIA, the Library, FIM, Sloan, and Longway—you are reclaiming space and ensuring that the “faith, dreams, and determination” of the ancestors are woven into the very fabric of Flint’s cultural identity.
Sponsor: Sloan Museum/Longway Planetarium
Father’s Day Backyard Barbecue | Sunday, June 21, 2026, from 3 – 6 p.m.
Location: Memorial Park – 1026 Church St, Flint, MI
Purpose: This initiative to “bridge the gap” is the emotional and structural cornerstone of the entire “Village” model. By focusing on family forgiveness and providing a judgment-free space for fathers of all kinds, biological, adoptive, step, and beyond, you are addressing the core of community stability. This event transforms the church or center into a sanctuary for “The Healed Leader,” ensuring that the men who lead the march and run the markets are thriving at home as well.
Sponsored by The Traditional Flint Juneteenth Celebration Committee
B.U.S.T/Healing Circle | Monday, June 22, 2026, from 6 – 8 p.m.
Location: Martin Luther King Peace Park – MLK & McClellan
Purpose: Holistic Healing Circle is a vital response to the “trials and tribulations” the community has weathered. Historically, when a community has been subject to systemic pain, the focus is often on survival; this circle shifts the focus toward sovereignty and restoration.
Sponsored by The Traditional Flint Juneteenth Committee
GET OUT THE VOTE (GOTV) Rally | Tuesday, June 23, 2026, from 5 – 8 p.m.
Location: Dort Park – Corner of N. Saginaw St. & Hamilton St.
Sponsored by Robinson for Flint City Council 5th Ward
Purpose: “Get Out the Vote” (GOTV) is more than just a logistical task; it is the final push to turn the community’s collective energy into political power. Given the focus on civic accountability, transparency, and the economic future of the region, a successful GOTV strategy ensures that the “Village” has a seat at the table where decisions about water rates, infrastructure, and local leadership are made.
Southside City of Hope | Thursday, June 25, 2026 from 4:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Brennan Center – 1301 Pingree Ave, Flint, MI 48503
Purpose: Southside City of Hope proudly invites the community of Flint, MI, to the Juneteenth Block Club Party on Thursday, June 25th, 2026, from 4:30- 8:30 p.m. at Brennan Park, 1301 Pingree Ave, Flint, MI 48503. Come out and enjoy free school supplies and bounce houses for the youth, live entertainment with music, singing, and a fashion show focusing on African Attire, exciting games and activities including kickball, basketball, horseshoes, bid whist/spades, bridge, dominoes, food trucks, vendors, and more for all ages. It will be a powerful evening of fun! Bring your family, friends, and neighbors as we come together to celebrate freedom, culture, unity and the spirit of community. You do not want to miss this exciting celebration!
Sponsored by Southside City of Hope
Black Lives Matter – Flint Special | Friday, June 26, 2026, from 6 – 9 p.m.
Location: McCree Theatre – 4601 Clio Rd, Flint, MI 48504
Purpose: A Black Lives Matter Juneteenth Special serves as a vital bridge between the historical end of chattel slavery and the modern movement for systemic justice. It reframes Juneteenth not just as a day of “reflection,” but as a day of action and accountability. By blending the heritage of 1865 with the demands of today, this special can galvanize the “Village” to ensure that freedom is lived, not just celebrated.
Sponsored by Black Lives Matter Flint (BLMF)
Dr. E Hill Deloney Scholarship Reception | Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 4 – 7 p.m.
Location: Flint Development Center – 4121 Martin Luther King AVE. Flint, MI
Purpose: The Dr. E. Hill De Loney Scholarship Reception is the heartbeat of your “generation-to-generation” mission. By honoring the woman who founded this very committee and dedicated her life to “rearing and mentoring” the youth with real knowledge, you are ensuring that the 54th Annual Traditional Juneteenth Celebration is rooted in its original soil.
Sponsored by Community-Based Organization Partner (CBOP)
Juneteenth Family Reunion | Sunday, June 28, 2026, from 4 – 8 p.m.
Location: Hasselbring Senior Center – 2111 Flushing Rd. Flint, MI
Purpose: This Traditional Flint Juneteenth Family Reunion is the ultimate “Harambee” moment, a time to lay down the tools of planning and pick up the fruits of fellowship. After decades of “repairing the breach” and building the village, this day of reflection honors the architects who have kept the flame of Mother De Loney’s vision alive for 54 years. By framing this as a “Family Reunion,” you are acknowledging that the committee is more than a working group; it is a kinship bonded by a shared mission of Black economic empowerment and cultural preservation.
Sponsored by Calvary United Methodist Church
