In the lead up to Juneteenth on June 19, Colorado State University and Northern Colorado community members can participate in a variety of special events to celebrate a day of liberation and joy.
From June 14-16, the annual Fort Collins Juneteenth Celebration — located primarily at the Foothills mall — will feature a youth night, live entertainment, a vendor market and numerous activity workshops.
Following the weekend festivities at the Fort Collins Juneteenth Celebration, CSU will host a special edition of the Lagoon Concert Series with soul and roots performers The Reminders on Wednesday, June 19, at 6:30 p.m. on the Lory Student Center’s west lawn.
Juneteenth 2024 event information
Fort Collins Juneteenth Celebration | June 14-16
For the latest information, visit focojuneteenth.com. Follow on Instagram at @foco_juneteenth.
Lagoon Concert Series with The Reminders | June 19
For the latest information, visit lagoonseries.com.
The Fort Collins Juneteenth Celebration is organized by CSU and Northern Colorado community members. Planning committee member Jocelyn Lapham, program coordinator in CSU’s Office of the Vice President for Inclusive Excellence, explained that the events are open to everyone.
“It’s really just a beautiful event,” Lapham said. “For me and my history, it’s really important to see young Black people outside of CSU thriving and getting connected across the city. And for people who aren’t Black, it’s a great opportunity to learn more and celebrate with us.”
Lapham added that the Juneteenth Celebration is taking root in the community as it continues to expand. The FoCo Juneteenth committee was formed by Bridgette Johnson, Louise Cutler and Northern Colorado community organizations in 2021 to correct widely spread misinformation about Juneteenth by bringing the Freedom Day Celebration to life in Northern Colorado.
Johnson, a longtime Fort Collins resident who worked in leadership roles at CSU for 13 years, recalled the inaugural celebration in 2022 and the energy among the participants.
“There was a group of Black folks standing around enjoying the festivities in a place where we could bring ourselves, talking and laughing,” Johnson said. “Some folks knew each other. Some didn’t. But with all the energy, we started a new program called the Black Professionals Network.”
Johnson explained that the Black Professionals Network creates opportunities to connect and form community in Northern Colorado, noting that the network will play a larger role in future Juneteenth celebration planning.
Johnson, who recently moved to California for a position at the University of California, Irvine said she plans to return to Fort Collins this weekend for the celebration and hopes the energy of the Juneteenth Celebration will continue to grow year after year.
“I plan on moving back to Fort Collins in a few years, and I hope and pray that this is sustained beyond year three,” she said. “The city needs to embrace this, so the community can have it.”
Fort Collins Juneteenth Celebration calendar
For the latest information, visit focojuneteenth.com.
Friday, June 14
Teen Night
6-9 p.m.
Cultural Enrichment Center
1825 E. Mulberry St.
Opening Concert
6-9 p.m.
Foothills Mall Lawn
Saturday, June 15
Community celebration
Events located at the Foothills Mall.
- 9 a.m. | Yoga.
- 10 a.m. | Afro Beats.
- 10 a.m. | Three-on-three Basketball tournament.
- 10:30 a.m. | KokoFit.
- 11:30 a.m. | Belly Dancing.
- 12:30 p.m. | Dance Afrik.
- 1 p.m. | Boxing.
- 1:30 p.m. | Soundbath.
- 2 p.m. | Double Dutch.
- 2:30 p.m. | Selassi and the Fa Fa Family.
- 2:30 p.m. | Kids Yoga.
- 3:30 p.m. | FoCo Flava.
- 4:30 p.m. | BFaith.
- 5 p.m. | DJ Eschaton.
- 6 p.m. | Same Cloth featuring JoFoKe.
- 7 p.m. | New Bloodline.
- 8 p.m. | Titonic.
Sunday, June 16
Church on the Lawn
12 p.m.
Foothills Mall Lawn
Sponsors
- Liberation sponsors: Woodward & First Bank.
- Freedom sponsors: City of Ft Collins, Colorado State University, Colorado Health foundation and KUNC Colorado Sound.
- Event sponsors: Comcast, Colorado Trust, Fort Collins Chambers, Bohemian.
