OHIO

Columbus

• The Juneteenth Festival "Celebrating the Spirit of African Independence" is scheduled for June 12 - 19th.  This year's festival features poet, author and Ohio native, Nikki Giovanni who first came to prominence as a writer during the 1960's.  Giovanni will headline an opening Reception and Art Exhibit on Friday, June 12th at the Ohio State Capitol featuring a program of music, poetry, young Juneteenth essayists and visual artists.  The free events at Franklin Park on June 13th - 14th promise to set the stage for the week of cultural discovery.

On Saturday morning, June 13th, a community parade will lead the crowds into the Franklin Park where a day full of youth games and activities, health screenings, an artist market and Main Stage activities will be held.  African American cuisine including barbecue ribs, Jamaican "jerk" chicken, sweet potato pie and other exotic and wonderful dishes will be for sale and a national recording artist will highlight the activities.

Sunday, June 14th, is slated as "Family Reunion Day" with a focus on family activities and entertainment.   The Nu City Mass Choir of Chicago is scheduled to headline the day's performances of Gospel and jazz entertainment.  June 14th - 19th features a Golf Classic, 3 0n 3 Basketball tournament and workshops slated at venues around town.  A final highlight will be a presentation by prominent psychiatrist and author Dr. Frances Cress Welsing to top off the Juneteenth activities.

Juneteenth celebrations are growing across the country with 30,000 expected at the Columbus event. For more information about the Columbus Juneteenth Festival, call Alkebulan, Inc. at 299-4488.

Oberlin

• The 1998 Oberlin Juneteenth Homecoming Festival on Tappan Square, Oberlin, Ohio Saturday, June 13, 1998, 10 am 'til Dusk and Slavery Memorial Service at Westwood Cemetery, Morgan Street, Oberlin, Ohio Friday, June 12, 1998 6:30 p.m. Speakers: Cathy Nelson "Retracing the Underground Railroad in Ohio (1:00-2:15 p.m.) Beverly Gray "Tracing Trails of the Scioto River and the Underground
  Railroad in Southern Ohio (2:30-4:30 p.m.)
  
  Activities: Parade & Opening Ceremonies Libation with ancestors’ names, Historical Wagon Tours, Cemetery Tours, Children's Programs, Jumping the Broom: Renewal of Marriage Vows Tony Foster, Woodcarver, Storytelling, AAGS of Cleveland Booth
  
  Music: Drum Workshop, Drum Circle
  
  Contests: Best African dress, Oldest Attending, Youngest Attending,  African American First Families in Oberlin Certificate
  
  Plus: Food and Crafts Sales (all day)
  
  For more information contact: Oberlin Area Chamber of Commerce 440/774-6262 or 440/774-4327 Thelma Smith, Honorary Chairperson and Adenike Sharpley, Coordinator, Juneteenth Committee

Cincinnati's

• 1998 will be Cincinnati's 11th annual Juneteenth Festival. We hold it in one of the city's major park, with cosponsorship by a local radio station and the Cincinnati park board....two stages of diverse entertainment, food, vendors, reenactments, etc....no admission charge, so it's hard to gauge attendance, but at its peak it has been estimated at 10-15,000 This year we're only two days away--June 13, the nearest Saturday in the teens!... next year we'll be back to the 19th.......The Cincinnati Juneteenth Committee, Inc., Lydia Morgan, Chairman, 6242 Orchard Ln.,Cincinnati, OH 45213 513-631-7289

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