Bonita kicks off The Community Voice Juneteenth Road Trip trip outside the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center. See how Juneteenth festivals across Kansas celebrate Community, Freedom and Legacy.
Topeka
From a parade and scholarship banquet to a community gathering at Hillcrest Park, Topeka residents celebrated Juneteenth with a full week of activities. The Community Voice stopped by to capture moments from the celebration and the people who made it special.
Topeka Juneteenth Stories
Wichita
Wichita’s Juneteenth celebration included a parade, community gathering at McAdams Park and a powerful Gospel Night finale that closed out a week of activities.
Kansas City
A sudden downpour soaked the start of Kansas City, Kansas’ Juneteenth parade, but many participants and spectators refused to let the weather end the celebration. Later, community members gathered at Memorial Hall for an evening of music featuring LeVelle, John Hudson, Bri Davis and the J Foster Band.
Kansas City Juneteenth Storiees
Never Let the Rain Win: KCK Juneteenth Carries On
If there was a lesson from this year’s Kansas City,…
18th & Vine Opens New Pedestrian Corridor Ahead of Juneteenth
The ribbon cutting marked the completion of years of planning…
Kansas City Launches Juneteenth Season with Parade Along 18th Street
The Kansas City Juneteenth Parade returned to 18th Street on…
Leavenworth
Leavenworth Juneteenth Moments
Leavenworth Juneteenth Celebration honors Grand Marshal Mr. Wilbur Ferguson
Manhattan
The Little Apple once again hosted one of the state’s premier Juneteenth celebrations. Party Train, formerly The Gap Band, had the crowd dancing to classic hits while families enjoyed food, fellowship and the popular grilling cookoff.
Manhattan Juneteenth Stories
Manhattan Juneteenth Keeps the Party Rolling in the Little Apple
If there’s one thing we’ve learned during our Juneteenth Road Trip, it’s this: you can tell how good a festival is by how long people stick around. And every year in Manhattan — the Little Apple — we stay awhile. The Manhattan Juneteenth Celebration once again delivered one of the best Friday night gatherings of…
Lawrence
Rain clouds couldn’t dampen the spirit of Lawrence’s Juneteenth celebration. Community members gathered in South Park for two days of food, music, activities and fellowship that reflected the city’s welcoming and inclusive character.
Lawrence Juneteenth Stories
Lawrence Juneteenth Celebration Brings Community Together
LAWRENCE — Despite threatening skies, hundreds gathered in South Park on Friday evening to kick off Lawrence’s Juneteenth celebration with food, fellowship and a strong sense of community. The Friday event, Emancipation Proclamation Day, featured free meals, music, line dancing, children’s activities, games and a live reading of the 2026 winning Juneteenth essay. Organizers served…