Denver's Juneteenth Music Festival in urgent need of funding for 2025 event
DENVER (KDVR) — Denver's Juneteenth Music Festival is asking the public to help ensure the event can continue after a sharp decline in corporate sponsorships.
This year's festival will be scaled back to one day only on Sunday, June 15 — that is, if enough funding is raised.
Denver history: How jazz music formed the 'Harlem of the West' in Five Points
Event organizers at JMF Corporation, the nonprofit behind the annual event, announced in a press release Monday that it is in urgent need of funding to ensure that it can still take place.
'The decision to scale back follows the loss of several long-time sponsors amid shifting corporate priorities and a changing philanthropic landscape,' JMF Corporation said in the release.
Now, the nonprofit must raise $80,000 to ensure that the Juneteenth Music Festival continues and remains free to all.
Executive Director of JMF Corporation Norman Harris told FOX31's Greg Nieto that the situation could turn out far better than anticipated.
'This could be a blessing in disguise, I don't know,' Harris said. 'We haven't received explanations from some of these companies that we've been working with.'
The organization said it is determined to keep the legacy of Juneteenth strong and thriving in Five Points.
'I believe it's a part of the cultural fabric of our city,' Harris said.
Now, organizers are calling on individuals, local businesses and grassroots organizations for support.
'This is more than a festival—it's a declaration that our stories, our culture, and our presence matter,' Harris said. 'We know that values shift and priorities change — but our community stays rooted. We're not scaling back our commitment, just the footprint. And with our community by our side, we'll rise to meet this moment and keep Juneteenth alive in the streets of Five Points.'
The event has previously been two days and has drawn tens of thousands of people from across the state 'to honor the legacy of Black liberation through music, art, and community gathering,' the organization said.
The organization said this year's festival will still include live performances, the historic Juneteenth Parade, youth zone, health zone and a showcase of Black-owned businesses.
Chuck Yearman attends the festival annually.
'I think that's unfortunate for something that's so historic, so meaningful,' he said. 'It kinda brings the whole neighborhood together.'
Anyone can make a donation on the Juneteenth Music Festival website.
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The Juneteenth Music Festival will be one of fewer than normal chances that Denverites have to celebrate Black history in the Five Points neighborhood. The traditional Five Points Jazz Festival will not return in 2025, and instead, the new Five Points Jazz Activation Fund will go toward businesses, nonprofits and creatives to be used for jazz and jazz-related programs throughout the year. One of those opportunities was the Five Points Jazz Roots event in February.
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